Research Article The Effects of Sa-Am Acupuncture Treatment on Respiratory Physiology Parameters in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Respiratory dysfunction and complications are the most common causes of death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This is a pilot study to observe the changes in respiratory physiology parameters after Sa-am acupuncture treatment. Eighteen ALS patients received Sa-am acupuncture treatment twice a day for 5 days. The EtCO 2, SpO 2, RR, and pulse rate were measured for 15min before and during treatment, using capnography and oximetry. Correlation of K-ALSFRS-R scores against measured parameters showed that patients who had high K-ALSFRS-R scores had greater changes in pulse rate after acupuncture stimulation; they also showed a decrease in EtCO 2, RR, and pulse rate and an increase in SpO 2. A comparison of the mean values of these different parameters before and after Sa-am acupuncture stimulation revealed statistically significant differences