Search Results

Recently, the number of athletes who receive acupuncture therapy is increasing. However, most of these athletes receive acupuncture therapy with single-acupuncture and/or electro-acupuncture to a local point, or a trigger point. We experienced two water polo athletes who were improved using acupuncture and moxibustion therapy with “zuisho” therapy. Case 1 was 16 year old man. He became aware of pain in his right thumb after training, which continued with extended training time, a numbness in his left hand appeared more, and he received acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. These symptoms disappeared immediately with acupuncture and moxibustion therapy using the standard traditional methods, such as contact needling to a yuan point, and in situ acupuncture to a back shu point, etc. Case 2 was 17 year old man. He received acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for lumbago and stiffness of the neck. These symptoms disappeared immediately after acupuncture and moxibustion therapy using the standard traditional methods such as contact needling to a yuan point, and inserting needles into a back shu point, an extra meridian, etc. In these two cases, symptoms were improved with “zuisho” therapy, and both could continue with longer and more strenuous training. This suggests that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy using the standard traditional methods are useful for athletes.
Acupuncture ; Therapeutic procedure ; symptoms <1> ; Training ; Water

7.Effects of Spa Therapy for Asthmatics with a Long History of Cigarette Smoking, Evaluated by Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness and Generation of Leukotrienes by Leucocytes

Fumihiro MITSUNOBU ; Yasuhiro HOSAKI ; Kozo ASHIDA ; Naofumi IWAGAKI ; Takuya NAGATA ; Makoto FUJII ; Shingo TAKATA ; Masanori HAMADA ; Yoshiro TANIZAKI

The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2005;68(2):83-91

The effects of spa therapy for asthmatics with a long history of cigarette smoking were studied, compared with the effects for those without smoking history. 1. Of 22 patients with smoking history, 15 (68.2%) had definite efficacy of spa therapy (4 had marked efficacy, and 11 had moderate efficacy), and the residual 7 had slight or no efficacy. In contrast, of 36 patients without smoking history, 29 (80.6%) had definite efficacy. The effects of spa therapy for asthmatics were significantly higher in never-smokers than in ex-smokers.
2. A significant increase in the production of IgE antibodies, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and the generation of leukotrienes B₄ (LTB₄) and C₄ (LTC₄) by leucocytes was observed in ex-smokers compared with never-smokers. 3. The frequency of patients with a positive BAST against inhalant allergens was larger in subjects with slight or no efficacy than in those with marked or moderate efficacy in never-smokers, but not in ex-smokers. 4. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was significantly increased in patients with slight or no efficacy than in those with marked or moderate efficacy both in ex-smokers and never-smoker. 5. The generation of LTB₄ was more increased in subjects with slight or no efficacy than in those with efficacy both in ex-smokers and never-smokers, however, the differences were not significant. 5. The generation of LTC₄ tended to be more increased in subjects with slight or no efficacy than in those with efficacy in never-smokers, but not in ex-smokers, although these were not significant. The results suggest that an increase in the production of IgE antibodies, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and the generation of LTB₄ and LTC₄, which might be influenced by cigarette smoking, affect the effects of spa therapy for patients with asthma.