Research Article

Auricular Acupressure Effect on Autonomic Responses Evoked by a Cold Pressor Test in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Study

Table 2

Pulse rate changes during the experiment.

StageTimePulse rate (bpm) median (IQR)Comparison to basal PR of each group value
Group 1Group 2Group 3Group 0Group 1Group 2Group 3Group 0

BasalT1072 (67–78)76.5 (71–85)78 (69–82)72.5 (66–76.75)
CPT1T2572 (69–75)74.5 (70–79)75.5 (70–80)74.5 (69.5––80)0.33340.20040.7024
T2883.5 (77–92)82.5 (73–90)85.5 (78–90)78 (75.25–84.75)

RestT3172 (68–76)72.5 (68–80)73.5 (68–80)73 (66.50–78.25)0.49740.4746
AAT43a71 (67–78)72.5 (69–78)72.5 (69–78)0.76510.05880.0738
T43b63 (57–69)63 (61–69)67.5 (61–74)
T48a70 (67–77)70 (65–76)72.5 (67–79)0.0666
T48b63.5 (59–70)64.5 (62–69)67 (62–74)
T53a70 (63–71)70 (63–75)70 (64–80)
T53b64.5 (59–69)64 (61–69)66.5 (63–73)
T58a67 (63–70)68.5 (65–76)72 (63–77)
T58b63.5 (59–69)64 (61–72)67.5 (62–74)

CPT2T6065 (62–72)71 (63–77)70.5 (63–77)75.5 (71.25–80)
T6379 (72–84)76 (69–88)81 (75–88)79 (76.25–85)0.1207

RestT6669.5 (64–74)69 (65–74)69.5 (63–74)73 (68–78.75)0.1830

PR = pulse rate, IQR = interquartile range, AA = auricular acupressure, CPT1 = first cold pressor test, CPT2 = second cold pressor test, a = before acupoint stimulation, b = after acupoint stimulation. significantly different. Statistical test: t-test.