A hybrid method to study the mechanical information induced by needle rotating

Abstract

Acupuncture has been used in China for more than 2000 years; its curative effect is acknowledged wildly in the world, but the underlying mechanisms are not revealed. The study focuses on mechanical effect of manual acupuncture. In this paper, a mathematical model based on viscoelastic theory and quasilinear viscoelastic theory of soft tissue is constructed; a hybrid method was used to study the tissue displacement and energy dissipation induced by needle rotation. It shows that (1) needle rotation will induce the extracellular matrix deformation and generate a mechanical stress field in the interstitium,(2) the deformation depends on rotation frequency and is mainly restrained in the vicinity of the needle, and (3) energy dissipation is affected by rotation frequency and very sensitive at low frequency. These results are consistent with experimental observations, and may help to explain some acupuncture theories and phenomena. Furthermore, this work not only contributes to reveal the mechanical effect of acupuncture (needle rotation) by modern scientific methods but also provides a hybrid method to study the strain and stress deriving from mechanical stimuli of connective tissue. KEYWORDSacupuncture needle rotation, computational methods, coupling of solid mechanics with other effects, hybrid method, quasilinear viscoelasticity theory, tissue displacement

Manual acupuncture for neuromusculoskeletal disorders: The selection of stimulation parameters and corresponding effects

“…Needling velocity is another important stimulation parameter for acupuncturists; moreover, the reinforcing and attenuating methods of acupuncture manipulation are also mainly distinguished according to the needling velocity ( Lyu et al, 2019 ). Needling was able to arouse the deformation of the extracellular matrix and form a mechanical stress field in the interstitium, which hinged on needling velocity ( Yao et al, 2018 ). This stress field causes winding or rupture of collagen fibers and muscles, and its magnitude affects the degree of cellular response around acupoints ( Langevin et al, 2001 ).…”

A Mathematical Model to Study the Mechanical Information Induced by Lifting-Thrusting Needle

“…Thiriet et al's mathematical model analyzed the different effects between acupuncture positioned at and out of acupoints [12]. We have also constructed a mathematical model to analyze the needle rotation at acupoints [13]. In this study, the previous work is extended, and the acupuncture of lifting-thrusting manipulation is studied through the establishment of a mechanical model based on the theory of viscoelastic mechanics.…”