The Immediate Effect Of Manual Needle Acupuncture And Electro Acupuncture On The Explosive Force Production Of Quadriceps On Asymptomatic Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Enhancing explosive force is a priority in both sports performance and rehabilitation. Acupuncture may acutely improve muscle power by facilitating motor unit recruitment and optimizing neuromuscular coordination. Objective: To directly compare the immediate effects of manual acupuncture (MA) and electro-acupuncture (EA) on quadriceps explosive force in healthy young adults. Methods: Sixty-six asymptomatic participants (18–23 years) were randomized to MA (n=22), EA (n=22), or sham acupuncture (n=22). MA and EA targeted ST32, ST34, ST36, and SP10; sham stimulation was applied to non-acupoints adjacent to these sites. All treatments lasted 20 minutes. Quadriceps performance—average maximum torque, average work, average power, and average peak power—was assessed pre- and post-intervention using isokinetic dynamometry. Results: EA produced the largest improvements: +60.17% (torque), +80.39% (work), +70.74% (power), and +54.94% (peak power). MA achieved +45.72%, +65.55%, +51.40%, and +38.03%, respectively. Sham changes were negligible (+2.47–5.22%, p>0.05). Both EA and MA outperformed sham (p<0.001), and EA surpassed MA across all metrics (p<0.01). Conclusion: A single EA session elicits substantial, immediate gains in quadriceps explosive force, outperforming MA and sham. EA may represent a potent, time-efficient intervention for enhancing lower-limb muscle power in athletic and clinical contexts.