The Effectiveness of the Traditional Acupuncture Point,ST 36 (Zusanli) & Omura’s ST 36 Point (True Zusanli) Needling on the Wingate Anaerobic Test Results of Young Soccer Players

The purpose of this study was to show and compare the effects of the Traditional acupuncture point ST 36 (ZuSanLi) and ‘Omura’s ST 36 point’ (True ST 36) needling on the Wingate test results of young soccer players. The Wingate test is a widely used and very well known ergometric bicycle test to measure anaerobic power. The Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (B.D.O.R.T.) of Yoshiaki Omura, M.D.,Sc.D. was used to determine the “ Omura’s ST 36 point (True ST 36)”. Young soccer players (N= 20) between 15-16 years of age (Mean = 15.25 ± 0.44) were involved in the study. Subjects were divided into two homogenous groups (ST 36, [ST 36], Omura’s ST.36 point (true ST 36) [tST 36] in respect to their number, age, height and weight (Respectively; N=10; 15.40 ± 0.52, 15.10 ± 0,32; 171.50 ± 3.57, 171.00 ± 4.81; 65.60 ± 4.01, 61.50 ± 4.77). The anaerobic power of the subjects were measured using Monark 894E ergometric bicycle. The breaking resistance was 75 g per kg. of body weight of the subjects. The peak power, average power, minimum power and power drop was measured as absolute values and per kg. of body weight. Subjects were tested twice with and without acupuncture application. Needling was in one group onto the traditional and in the other group onto the ‘Omura’s ST 36 point’ (True ST 36). Before each test, subjects wanned up for 5 minutes by cycling on the same ergometer at 60 RPM, without load. Statistically significant increases were measured with the needling of Omura’s ST 36 point (“True ST 36”) in peak power (p<0,01), and relative peak power (p<0,01), in comparison to Wingate test results without needling. Traditional Acupuncture point, ST 36 needling showed statistically insignificant increases of the same measurements and comparison. We conclude that B.D.O.R.T. can help to determine new (True) Acupuncture points. Needling of both points but especially Omura’s ST 36 (True ST 36) seem to be effective for increasing the anaerobic power of young soccer players measured with Wingate anaerobic power test, and more research is needed to support these findings in all aspects.