New research from Germany shows Acupuncture improves exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure.

The finding comes from a clinical pilot study by the team headed by Dr. Johannes Backs, physician and study director at the Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology -- Medical Director: Professor Dr. Hugo Katus) of Heidelberg University Hospital.

Chronic weakness of the heart muscle is one of the most frequent diseases and causes of death in Europe. Patients with this disease suffer from a reduction in exercise capacity. Shortness of breath and fatigue brought on by physical exercise are signs of the disease.

The results:
Patients in the acupuncture study were given ten sessions of acupuncture focusing on the acupuncture points which boost general strength ('qi' and blood). The control group was treated with special placebo needles that simulate a needle prick but do not break the skin. After this therapy, the acupuncture patients could cover a greater walk distance in the time allowed than the placebo patients. They recovered more quickly and tended to feel less exhausted.

How does it work?
The researchers think that acupuncture influences the autonomic nervous system and has an influence on skeletal muscle strength. Regular treatment can increase exercise tolerance. The results of the clinical study, which was conducted with a comparison group treated with placebo acupuncture using dull needles, have been published in the medical journal Heart.

"The blood level of a certain messenger, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) actually drops after the real acupuncture treatment. Since TNF alpha leads to a reduction of muscle mass and muscle strength among other things, this would explain the positive effect on skeletal muscle function," explains Dr. Arnt Kristen, one of the authors of the study.

Better long-term prognoses through acupuncture?
"Most studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture have methodological weaknesses, as there are no placebo controls and the study participants are not 'blinded'. This means that the patients know which treatment they are given and may therefore have certain expectations," according to Backs. "In our studies, all patients thought they had received 'real' acupuncture." A fascinating question for the future will be whether relatively low-cost acupuncture can improve the prognosis for cardiac patients over the long term.

Journal Source: British Medical Journal - "Heart"