Effectiveness and Safety of Meridian Activation Remedy System for Alleviating Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: an Observational Study

• DOI: 10.51507/j.jams.2024.17.2.55
• Publication Date: 2024-04-30T07:30:37Z
• Authors: InWoo Choi; Sangsoo Park; Seung Hyun Lee; Jeong-Woo Seo; In-Chan Seol; Yoon-Sik Kim; Miso S. Park; Horyong Yoo
• Keywords: Meridian (astronomy); Motor symptoms

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) lacks disease-modifying drugs or sustainable interventions, creating an unmet treatment need.Investigating complementary and alternative medicines aims to improve PD patients' quality of life by alleviating symptoms delaying the course disease.Objectives: In this single-center, prospective, observational, single-arm study, we aimed assess effectiveness safety acupuncture combined with exercise therapy Meridian Activation Remedy System (MARS).Methods: From March October 2021, 13 patients Hoehn Yahr stages 1 3 were recruited.For 8 weeks, MARS intervention was carried out twice a week.T-statistics used evaluate functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) GAITRite outcomes.All remaining outcome variables evaluated using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results:The significantly reduced Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision Unified Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III score (from 20.0 ± 11.8 8.8 5.5, p = 0.003), 10-meter walk test speed 9.5 1.8 8.7 1.3 seconds, 0.040), timed up go time 9.8 8.9 1.4 0.040).Moreover, MDS-UPDRS II, fNIRS hemodynamics, 360-degree turn test, fall efficacy scale, Questionnaire 39 scores improved but not significantly.All participants completed 8-week without any adverse reactions.Conclusion: An motor in patients.In particular, improvements UPDRS exhibited large clinically important differences.The findings are encouraging, randomized controlled trial will be conducted determine cost-effectiveness intervention.