Electroacupuncture Treatment on Sarcopenia in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Haemodialysis: An Effective Therapy
In brief
Electroacupuncture improved walking speed and grip in 35 dialysis patients
In an 8-week randomized study, patients receiving electroacupuncture walked faster and had stronger handgrip, while both measures declined in the control group; muscle mass index also rose in the treatment group. No serious adverse events were reported, but the trial was small and short, and whether the metabolic changes explain the improvements remains unknown.
- Journal
- Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle (Q1)
- Published
- 1 August 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Ruoxin Chen, Qinqin Qian, Bin Wang, Ruoyang Chen, Liuping Zhang, Hui Jin, et al.
- PMID
- 42473028
- DOI
- 10.1002/jcsm.70345
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Rehabilitation (top studies of the week, 11 October 2026): Electroacupuncture improves gait speed and muscle strength
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment has been utilized for recovery from neuromuscular-related diseases and may play a significant role in the treatment of sarcopenia. This interventional, randomized controlled clinical study aims to explore the efficacy of EA treatment in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients with sarcopenia. METHODS: Thirty-six participants with sarcopenia undergoing MHD were randomly divided into the control group and the EA group. The participants in the EA group received a total of 24 treatments, each lasting 30 min, and were administered three times per week. Participants in the control group were instructed to continue their current lifestyle and treatment plans. The assessments were conducted at baseline and after 8 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted according to gender and baseline values. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess EA effects, reporting main effects and the time × group interaction with partial eta squared (η2p) effect sizes. The primary outcome was 6-m gait speed; the secondary outcomes were skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and handgrip strength. Fasting blood samples were collected, and serum metabolomics using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was employed to reveal metabolic changes. RESULTS: One participant from the EA group dropped out, and 35 participants were included in the analysis, aged (59.06 ± 11.69) years, including 22 men and 13 women. After intervention, the 6-m gait speed of the EA group increased (Δ = 0.10 ± 0.08; p < 0.001), whereas that of the control group decreased (Δ = -0.06 ± 0.09; p = 0.018). The handgrip strength of the EA group increased (Δ = 0.68 ± 0.98; p = 0.011), whereas that of the control group decreased (Δ = -0.76 ± 1.19; p = 0.015). The SMI in the EA group increased (Δ = 0.19 ± 0.22; p = 0.003), although there was no significant difference in the control group. No serious adverse events were observed during the EA treatment. The results of serum metabolomics indicated that a total of 127 differentially expressed metabolites were identified (p < 0.05, VIP > 1), including 35 up-regulated metabolites and 92 down-regulated metabolites. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and other pathways related to lipid metabolism were significantly changed. CONCLUSIONS: EA treatment was an effective therapy for sarcopenia in patients undergoing MHD. Its therapeutic effect may be related to the positive regulation of systemic metabolism (including amino acid and lipid profiles).
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.