Effects of a single session of acupuncture on suboccipital muscles: hamstring flexibility and proprioception

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the immediate effect of a single session of acupunture to suboccipital muscle on the hamstring flexibility and proprioception.Methods: Forty-two adult men who exercise at least twice a week were randomized to the acupuncture group (n=14), the sham acupuncture group (n=14), and the self-myofascial release group (n=14). Hamstring flexibility test, cervical joint position error test, and lower extremity proprioception test (Tandem romberg test) were measured immediately before and after the intervention. Two-way ANOVA with Repeated measures was performed to verify the effect. Differences between groups were analyzed using the independent sample t-test, and differences between time periods within each group were analyzed using the paired t-test. All statistical significance levels were set to p<.05.Results: Hamstring flexibility showed significant differences in the acupuncture group (left, p=.001; right, p<.001) and in the self-myofascial release group (left, p=.038; right, p=.004). There was no significant difference of lower extremities proprioception according to the intervention method.Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment was shown to be effective in increasing hamstring flexibility immediately, and it is thought to have a similar level of effect with self-myofascial release.