Electroacupuncture-induced analgesia in a rat model of ankle sprain pain is mediated by spinal alpha-adrenoceptors
Sung Tae Koo, Kyu Sang Lim, […], and Jin Mo Chung
In summary, we have demonstrated a powerful analgesic effect of EA applied to the contralateral forelimb in rats with ankle sprain. This analgesic effect was reversed by spinal application of α2-adrenoceptor antagonists, but not by a systemic opioid antagonist. These data suggest that EA-induced analgesia in ankle sprain pain is mediated by spinal α2-adrenoceptors.
ACUPUNCTURE AND SPORTS INJURIES
Acupuncture may help relieve symptoms of sports injuries, such as pain and inflammation by:
• stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors (e.g. neuropeptide Y, serotonin), and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord (Pomeranz 1987, Han 2004, Zhao 2008, Zhou 2008, Lee 2009, Cheng 2009);
• delivering analgesia via alpha-adrenoceptor mechanisms (Koo 2008);
• increasing the release of adenosine, which has antinociceptive properties
(Goldman 2010);
• modulating the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network (Hui 2009);
• reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory
factors (Kavoussi 2007, Zijlstra 2003);
• improving muscle stiffness and joint mobility by increasing local microcirculation
(Komori 2009), which aids dispersal of swelling.
Sports Injuries and Acupuncture with Dr. Tony Willcox.