Acute Effects of Acu-Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Acu-TENS) on Forced Expiratory Flow Volume in One Second (FEV1) and Blood β-Endorphin Level in Subjects With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Treatments: Device: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00922051

HSEARS20070305001

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Acu-TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation applied on acupoints) on lung functions, dyspnoeic symptoms and its association with beta endorphin level in subjects with COPD.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 45+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• clinical diagnosis with COPD

Exclusion criteria

• allergic to gel
• unable to perform spirometry
• unable to communicate

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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44 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Group 1

Experimental group

Description:

Application of Acu-TENS

Treatment:

Device: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Device: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Group 2

Placebo Comparator group

Treatment:

Device: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Device: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)