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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06708312

The Effect Of Ears Acupuncture On Fitness Test 12 Minutes Running in Students Of Medical Faculty UNHAN RI

The goal of this clinical trial is to study the use of ear acupuncture in 12 minutes running test on third semester of cadets of Medical Faculty, Indonesia Defense University, between intervention and sham group. The outcome measure are heart rate, blood pressure, running distance, intensity and VAS RPE also VAS leg intensity.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–20 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Indonesia Defence University

Bogor, West Java, 16810, Indonesia

About this study

Ear acupuncture is a affordable, easy and non-invasive method with good evidence of effectiveness in the scope of physical training. Several previous studies has proven the effectiveness of acupuncture in physical exercise, including helping increases oxygen absorption and reduces lactic acid after exercise, lowering chronic musculoskeletal pain. In reducing pain after physical activity, ear acupuncture has been shown to reduce VAS leg intensity. This shows that ear acupuncture can helps athletes recover after intense training faster. At the Defense University of the Republic of Indonesia (UNHAN RI), Study Program students Bachelor of Medicine (cadet) has both academic demands and military training. The military education demands high stamina and physical fitness. To make sure the cadets are in a fit condition to face daily activities with a busy and numerous schedule physical activity, a physical fitness assessment is carried out at the end of each semester using the 12 run test. By doing this test, principal investigator aims to observe the effect of giving ear press needle acupuncture compare with sham on running 12 minutes in Indonesian Defense University student of medical faculty.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Indonesian Defense University Military FK Student Batch 4, Third semester
  • Gender male or female, age 18-20 years
  • Physically healthy based on the results of medical check-ups in the last 6 months mini medical check up (blood pressure, pulse, saturation, glucose and, Hb check carried out by researchers) as well as being eligible for physical exercise, assessed by PAR-Q questionnaire, history and physical examination
  • Willing to follow this research until completion and sign informed consent.
  • BMI is normal
  • Regularly exercise 5x a week with moderate to heavy intensity categories good physical fitness level
  • Do not consume caffeine and high calorie foods high in sugar for 1 hour before the test run

Exclusion criteria

  • Taking anti-inflammatory drugs (corticosteroids), anti pain (NSAIDS, opioids), muscle relaxants (diazepam, eperisone, etc.) or taking blood thinning drugs (anti-platelet or anti-coagulant drugs).
  • Have received any type of acupuncture therapy for some time <7 days before the study.
  • History of anti-inflammatory drug treatment in the previous 2 weeks.
  • There are tumors, wounds or skin infections, eczema, otitis externa and psoriasis in matchmaking area.
  • There was a hypersensitivity reaction to previous acupuncture therapy (allergy metals, severe atopy, keloids, or other skin hypersensitivity).
  • Participants had multiple ear piercings.
  • Have had surgery on the waist, hip, knee and ankle area before last 1 year.

Treatment and study plan

press needle acupuncture

Procedure

Placement of press needle on the ear acupuncture point : MA-TF1 Shenmen, MA-IC4 Heart, and MA-IC4 Sympathetic

Other names: ear acupuncture, earlobe acupuncture

sham press needle acupuncture

Procedure

Placement of adhesive plaster on the ear acupuncture point : MA-TF1 Shenmen, MA-IC4 Heart, and MA-IC4 Sympathetic

Primary outcomes

  1. VO2 max prediction scores

    Time frame: 5, 10, 15 minutes after running sessions

    Reference maximum amount individual capacity in use oxygen during doing activities or exercising, using VO2max prediction scores based on running distance (in meters), then entered into formula (mileage - 504.9 meters)/44.73 and categorized into :

    • Very good
    • OK
    • Enough
    • Less
    • Very less
  2. Blood pressure

    Time frame: 5, 10, 15 minutes after running sessions

    The pressure that occurs on arterial blood vessels when blood is pumped by the heart to be distributed throughout body, units of millimeters of water mercury(mmHg), measured with digital blood pressure meter.

  3. Pulse beat

    Time frame: 5, 10, 15 minutes after running test

    A palpable wave in the arteries when blood is pumped out the heart, reflecting heart rate, counted each the minutes count repetitions (times/min), measurement using digital smart watch

  4. Exercise intensity

    Time frame: after running test, before and after intervention and sham

    The power of deep stimulation exercise, for aerobic exercise heart rate is used. Intensity is categorized in zone, in this study used heavy intensity and maximum 77-100% of HRmax. Measured by Heart rate peak entered into formula Heart rate peak divide into Heart rate maximum x 100%

  5. The Borg rating scale/RPE

    Time frame: 5, 10 , 15 minutes after running test

    The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion ('Borg' or 'RPE') is a scale used as a indicators to determine energy exerted in a workout with a range 6-20, where 6 means "no exertion at all" and 20 means "maximal exertion."

  6. Modifid borg scale leg fatigue

    Time frame: 5, 10, 15 minutes after running test

    Modified Borg scale to determine size exertion in terms of this is the maximum strength of the leg (inferior extremity) in running with a range of 0-10.0 scale minimum and 10 represents maximum power possible someone tolerates

Secondary outcomes

  1. Adverse event

    Time frame: immediately after and follow up 1 week after running session

    Symptoms reported by patients after receiving press needle acupuncture

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Indonesia University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect Of Ears Acupuncture On Fitness Test 12 Minute Running Students Of Medical Faculty UNHAN RI Third Semester

Acronym: sportacup

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Nov 27, 2024
Registry last updated
May 22, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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