Acupuncture for muscle atrophy therapy

Objective:  Skeletal muscle atrophy resulting from nerve damage poses a significant challenge in patient recovery, impacting mobility and strength. Recent attention has turned to acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine technique known for its efficacy in relieving sore muscles. This research delves into the effectiveness of acupuncture in promoting muscle regeneration and functional motor recovery in denervated mice, employing different treatment frequencies and locations. Methods:  Using a mouse model specific to sciatic nerve denervation, assessments based on muscle regeneration and functional recovery were conducted following a series of acupuncture treatments. Evaluation parameters included gait analysis, muscle mass assessment, and immunofluorescence staining. Results:  All acupuncture-treated groups demonstrated improvements in both stride length and frequency, with the group receiving daily acupuncture at the leg showing the most substantial progress. After 2 weeks of denervation, a significant reduction in muscle mass was observed in the gastrocnemius muscles. Daily acupuncture treatments at leg and nerve defect sites exhibited substantial increases in muscle mass compared to non-acupuncture-treated groups, with daily treatments proving more effective than every other day treatments. Muscle/body weight analysis and immunofluorescent staining results revealed that acupuncture positively impacted muscle mass preservation, reduced protein degradation factors, and promoted growth factors. Acupuncture effectively inhibited the release of muscle degradation factors F-box protein 32 and tripartite motif containing 63 while enhancing the intensity of growth factors phospho-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1. Additionally, acupuncture significantly lowered reactive oxygen species levels compared to non-acupuncture-treated groups. Conclusion:  The study emphasizes the critical roles of acupuncture frequency and location in treatment effectiveness, with daily treatments contributing to better muscle mass preservation and every-other-day treatments proving more effective in promoting functional motor recovery. acupuncture at the back was found to be more effective than at the atrophy site in promoting tissue repair and regeneration.