Objective: To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture at acupoints of yangming meridians for sarcopenia.
Methods: A total of 60 patients with sarcopenia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the control group, conventional nutrition intervention for sarcopenia was adopted. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at bilateral Binao (LI 14), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc.,ipsilateral Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36) were connected to electroacupuncture, with discontinuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, 1-10 mA in intensity, 2 times a week, with a interval of 3 days. A total of 12-week treatment was required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), grip strength, 6 m-walking time, body fat percentage and body moisture percentage were observed in the two groups.
Results: Compared with those before treatment, after treatment, ASMI and grip strength were increased while 6 m-walking time was shortened in the two groups (P<0.05); body fat percentage was decreased while body moisture percentage was increased in the observation group (P<0.05). After treatment, in the observation group, ASMI, grip strength and body moisture percentage were increased (P<0.05), 6 m-walking time was shortened and body fat percentage was decreased (P<0.05) compared with those in the control group.
Conclusion: Electroacupuncture at acupoints of yangming meridians can effectively improve the skeletal muscle mass, muscle function, body fat percentage and body moisture percentage in patients with sarcopenia, and make the distribution of muscle and fat more reasonable.
目的：观察电针阳明经腧穴治疗肌少症的临床疗效。方法：将60例肌少症患者随机分为观察组和对照组，每组30例。对照组患者予肌少症常规营养疗法。观察组在对照组基础上针刺双侧臂臑、曲池、足三里、阳陵泉等穴，同侧曲池、足三里连接电针，予断续波，频率2 Hz，电流强度1~10 mA，每周2次，每次间隔3 d。两组均治疗12周。分别于治疗前后观察两组患者四肢骨骼肌质量指数（ASMI）、握力、6 m步行时间、体脂率及体水分率。结果：治疗后，两组患者ASMI及握力较治疗前提高、6 m步行时间较治疗前缩短（P<0.05），观察组患者体脂率较治疗前降低、体水分率较治疗前升高（P<0.05）；观察组患者ASMI、握力、体水分率高于对照组（P<0.05），6 m步行时间短于对照组、体脂率低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：电针阳明经腧穴可有效改善肌少症患者骨骼肌质量、肌肉功能、体脂率及体水分率，使肌肉、脂肪分布更趋合理。.
Keywords: acupoints of yangming meridians especially for treatment of wei syndrome; electroacupuncture; randomized controlled trial (RCT); sarcopenia; skeletal muscle mass.