Investigating the enhancement of sleep and quality of life in athletic patients through needle-embedding and acupoint therapy: a clinical approach

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of needle-embedding combined with acupoint application on enhancing sleep quality and overall life satisfaction among athletic patients experiencing sleep disturbances. Methods: A total of 80 athletes with sleep disorders were recruited for this investigation from October 2021 to October 2022. Participants were randomly assigned to either a research group (n=40) or a control group (n=40). The control group received oral estazolam, while the research group underwent a combination of needle-embedding and acupoint therapy. The efficacy of treatments on sleep disorders and any adverse reactions were assessed. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), while psychological well-being was evaluated using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). The SF-36 questionnaire was employed to assess quality of life. Additionally, fasting venous blood samples were analyzed for glutamic acid (GA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. Results: No significant difference in adverse reaction rates was observed between groups (P>0.05), with the research group showing superior overall treatment effectiveness (P<0.05). Post-treatment, the research group exhibited lower PSQI, ISI, SAS, and SDS scores, indicating improved sleep and reduced psychological distress compared to the control group. Furthermore, GA and GABA levels, along with SF-36 scores, were significantly better in the research group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The combination of needle-embedding and acupoint therapy significantly enhances sleep quality and psychological well-being in athletic patients, marking a substantial contribution to the improvement of athletes' quality of life and stress management.