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AIM March 2008 Text.qxd 13/03/2008 08:08 Page 60 Research shorts Acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue – an Acupuncture has minimal effect on perform- RCT in 47 patients ance in 20 cyclists Molassiotis A, Sylt P, Diggins H. The management of Dhillon S. The acute effect of acupuncture on 20km cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy with cycling performance. Clin J Sport Med acupuncture and acupressure: Arandomised 2008;18(1):76-80. controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2007;15(4):238-46. Twenty male cyclists (aged 18 to 30 years) were recruited via convenience sampling of students and Cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy is a general public. Athletic ability was assessed before difficult symptom to manage in practice and the most the study. disruptive symptom in patients’ lives. This study was This was a crossover study using each patient as carried out to assess the effects of acupuncture and his own control. Subjects underwent three tests a acupressure in managing cancer-related fatigue and week, riding a stationary bike for 20km as fast as the feasibility of running a randomised trial with possible. Before each test, they received acupuncture these two complementary therapies in preparation (test A), ‘sham’ acupuncture (test B), and no for a large trial. intervention (control, test C) once each in a random Forty seven patients with cancer who experienced order. Acupuncture points were chosen on the basis moderate to severe fatigue were randomised either to of Traditional Chinese Medicine and administered an acupuncture group (n=15), an acupressure group immediately before cycling. Sham was shallow (n=16) or a sham acupressure group (n=16). The needling of known acupoints. acupuncture group received six 20 minute sessions The outcome measures of each of the tests were over two weeks, while the patients in the two time to completion, VAS for lower extremity exercise acupressure groups were taught to massage/press induced pain, Borg rating of perceived exertion the points and did so daily thereafter for two weeks (RPE), and blood lactate concentrations, recorded on their own. Patients completed the immediately following each test. Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory before Mean times to Test A, B, and C completion were randomisation, at the end of the two week 36.19±5.23, 37.03±5.66, and 37.48±6.00 minutes, intervention and again about two weeks after the end respectively, P=0.76. Mean RPE scores after tests of the intervention. A, B, and C were 17.65±0.67, 16.95±0.99, and Significant improvements were found with 16.85±0.88, respectively, P=0.0088. Mean VAS regards to: general fatigue (P<0.001); physical fatigue scores after tests A, B, and C were 7.72±0.86, (P=0.016); activity (P=0.004); and motivation 7.94±0.78, and 8.08±0.69, respectively, P=0.76. (P=0.024). At the end of the intervention, there was The only statistically significant finding was that a 36% improvement in fatigue levels in the acupuncture gave higher RPE scores compared to acupuncture group, while the acupressure group the other tests. The clinical significance was that the improved by 19% and the sham acupressure by 0.6%. higher RPE scores were associated with lower time Improvements were observed even two weeks after and VAS scores. treatments, although they were lower (22%, 15%, 7%, respectively). Acupuncture shows great potential in the management of cancer-related fatigue, and it should be tested further using a large sample and a multicentre design. ACUPUNCTURE IN MEDICINE 2008;26(1):57-60. 60 www.acupunctureinmedicine.org.uk/volindex.php
Acupuncture in Medicine – SAGE
Published: Mar 1, 2008
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