Investigation Into the Possibilities of Using Ear Acupressure for Increasing the Pain Threshold During Athletic Training

Abstract

In order to investigate the possibilities for increasing the pain threshold of athletes, 60 healthy volunteers were divided equally into a test and a placebo group. Pressure sensitivity on the dorsal surface of the toe was measured with an algometer before and after manual stimulation of the 'ear' point in the test group and before and after mock stimulation in the placebo group. Results showed a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase in the pain threshold in the test group. These results suggest possible applications of ear acupressure in athletic training, especially in the prophylactic treatment of the minor aches and pains associated with the struggle for higher performance.