A research study out of Korea has found acupuncture effectively reduces muscle cramps. The purpose of the clinical trial was to examine the benefits and safety of electroacupuncture on liver cirrhosis patients suffering from muscle cramps. This article will describe the methods and findings of the muscle cramp acupuncture research study.
The Problem
Muscle cramps (a.k.a. muscle spasms) occur when muscles involuntary and forcibly contract and cannot relax. Typically, they involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. The most common muscles affected by spasms include the thighs, calves, foot arches, hands, arms, abdomen and along the rib cage (intercostals).
Muscle Cramp Study Methods
Fourteen liver cirrhosis patients with muscle cramps were treated with electroacupuncture three times a week for four weeks (12 total sessions). The electrical stimulation was a frequency of 100 Hz. Muscle cramp intensity was measured with a questionnaire of subjective symptoms. The patients were evaluated twice a month for two months.
Muscle Cramp Acupuncture Research Results
The study determined that four weeks of electroacupuncture treatment effectively reduced the frequency of muscle cramps. In addition, researchers found that electroacupuncture extended the benefits of the treatment for an additional four weeks.
Conclusions
Researchers concluded that electroacupuncture was beneficial for reducing muscle cramps in liver cirrhosis patients. Electroacupuncture was a safe treatment for liver cirrhosis patients with muscle cramps without causing any worsening of liver function.
Muscle Spasms & Raleigh Acupuncture
We have been successfully treating muscle spasms and cramps for many years. The treatment is safe, natural and highly effective.
You don’t have to have liver problems to receive the benefit of acupuncture for muscle cramps. It just so happens that this muscle cramp acupuncture research study used liver patients, as that condition often causes cramping. But the treatment will work for anyone with muscle cramps and spasms.
Next Steps
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References
Kim, S., Kwak, M., Joo, J., Kim, K., Shin, I., Lee, C. (2006). Pilot Study: Effects of Acupuncture on the Muscle Cramps of Liver Cirrhosis Patients, Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University.
What our Clients are Saying
I am a writer and I write the old fashioned way, by hand! A few years ago I started getting severe cramps in my hand. I knew it was from the writing, but didn’t want to change to a computer. So I tried a variety of therapies, none of which worked until I arrived at Raleigh Acupuncture. Their treatment was so good, and they were so awesome, that I’ve made them a part of my life. From hand cramps I moved on to them helping me with insomnia and chronic low back issues. It’s been a great experience!
I had terrible calf and foot cramps and used quinine. But it got so hard to get in the past few years. So I tried acupuncture. Raleigh Acupuncture truly helped. I recommend them for calf and foot cramps.
