Skin Temperature Behavior by Infrared Thermography After Application of Electroacupuncture and Acupuncture

The acupuncture electrical stimulation was performed by the EL 608 electroacupuncture device (NKL, Brusque - SC, Brazil, ANVISA 80191680002). For the stimulation of the acupuncture points, we selected a biphasic wave, 2 HZ of frequency, 6 mA of wavelength, and 5 seconds at resting time. The total stimulation time was 20 minutes.

The acupuncture points were bilaterally punctured by a stainless steel acupuncture needle (length 30mm x diameter 0.25) (Dongbang, Boryeong, Chungnam- Korea). We used the following Bladder acupuncture points, Weizong (B40) in the middle of the popliteal fossa and Kunlun (B60) located in a depression between the lateral malleolus and the Achilles tendon. The subjects were instructed to report the "De Qi" perception (paresthesia or numbness) that was the advice to the researchers that the point was right punctured. After the De qi was reported, the needle remained in the acupuncture point for 20 minutes and was rotated three times more for the preservation of the effect. During this time, all subjects remained in the supine laying down position on the stretcher.

Infrared images were captured at the first assessment (P0), 10 minutes later (P10), 20 minutes later (P20) and 30 minutes after the first assessment (P30). All analyzes were performed using QuickReport software, version 1.2 (FLIR Systems). No application of interventions between assessments.