Using acupressure to modify alertness in the classroom: A single-blinded, randomized, cross-over trial

Richard E. Harris; Joanne Jeter; Paul Chan; Peter Higgins; Feng Ming Kong; Reza Fazel; Candace Bramson; Brenda Gillespie; Khawaja Afzal Ammar; Michelle Anderson; Ghassan Bachuwa; Adnan Beg; Devin Brown; Linda Brubaker; Steven Bruch; Giani Cazan-London; Bobby Clark; Paul Cronin; Brian DeSmet; Gary Hamman; Brent Hollenbeck; Jaquelyn Hunt; Susan Johnson; Sucheta Joshi; Liise Kayler; Aine Kelly; Kim Kenton; Wendy Marder; Mary Marzec; Gisele Neiva; Amanda Peltier; Panduranga Rao; Erik Roys; Joel Rubenstein; Jonathan Segal; T. P. Singh; Maran Thamilarasan; Courtney Thornburg; Kevin Townsend; Robert Welch; Jinping Xu; Najeeb Zoubi

doi:10.1089/acm.2005.11.673

Using acupressure to modify alertness in the classroom: A single-blinded, randomized, cross-over trial

Richard E. Harris, Joanne Jeter, Paul Chan, Peter Higgins, Feng Ming Kong, Reza Fazel, Candace Bramson, Brenda Gillespie, Khawaja Afzal Ammar, Michelle Anderson, Ghassan Bachuwa, Adnan Beg, Devin Brown, Linda Brubaker, Steven Bruch, Giani Cazan-London, Bobby Clark, Paul Cronin, Brian DeSmet, Gary HammanBrent Hollenbeck, Jaquelyn Hunt, Susan Johnson, Sucheta Joshi, Liise Kayler, Aine Kelly, Kim Kenton, Wendy Marder, Mary Marzec, Gisele Neiva, Amanda Peltier, Panduranga Rao, Erik Roys, Joel Rubenstein, Jonathan Segal, T. P. Singh, Maran Thamilarasan, Courtney Thornburg, Kevin Townsend, Robert Welch, Jinping Xu, Najeeb Zoubi

Radiation Oncology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Previous reports have suggested that acupressure is effective in reducing pain and improving sleep quality; however, its effects on alertness have not been characterized. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether two different acupressure treatments have opposing effects on alertness in a full-day classroom setting. Design: This was a cross-over (two-treatments; three periods), single-blinded, randomized trial. Setting: The University of Michigan School of Public Health was the setting. Subjects: Students attending a course in clinical research design and statistical analysis at the University of Michigan participated in the study. Interventions and outcome measures: Blinded subjects were randomized to two acupressure treatment sequences: stimulation-relaxation-relaxation or relaxation-stimulation-stimulation. Acupressure treatments were self administered over 3 consecutive days. Pre- and post-treatment alertness scores were assessed each day using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). Changes in the SSS score (afternoon - morning) were analyzed using a mixed regression model of fixed and random effects. Important factors that were expected to affect alertness, such as caffeine and previous night's sleep, were also assessed. Results: Baseline characteristics and protocol compliance were similar between the two sequences. Stimulation acupressure treatment yielded a 0.56-point greater difference in score on the SSS, corresponding to less fatigue, compared to the relaxation acupressure treatment (p = 0.019). Day of study (p -0.004) and hours of overnight sleep (p = 0.042) also significantly affected the change in SSS scores. Incorporating participants' beliefs as to which treatment they received did not significantly alter the observed treatment effect. Conclusions: Acupressure at stimulation and relaxation points has differential effects on alertness in a classroom setting. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and to determine whether stimulation and relaxation acupressure are equally effective in influencing alertness.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	673-679
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Volume	11
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2005.11.673
State	Published - Aug 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Complementary and alternative medicine

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1089/acm.2005.11.673

Cite this

Harris, R. E., Jeter, J., Chan, P., Higgins, P., Kong, F. M., Fazel, R., Bramson, C., Gillespie, B., Ammar, K. A., Anderson, M., Bachuwa, G., Beg, A., Brown, D., Brubaker, L., Bruch, S., Cazan-London, G., Clark, B., Cronin, P., DeSmet, B., ... Zoubi, N. (2005). Using acupressure to modify alertness in the classroom: A single-blinded, randomized, cross-over trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11(4), 673-679. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2005.11.673

Harris, RE, Jeter, J, Chan, P, Higgins, P, Kong, FM, Fazel, R, Bramson, C, Gillespie, B, Ammar, KA, Anderson, M, Bachuwa, G, Beg, A, Brown, D, Brubaker, L, Bruch, S, Cazan-London, G, Clark, B, Cronin, P, DeSmet, B, Hamman, G, Hollenbeck, B, Hunt, J, Johnson, S, Joshi, S, Kayler, L, Kelly, A, Kenton, K, Marder, W, Marzec, M, Neiva, G, Peltier, A, Rao, P, Roys, E, Rubenstein, J, Segal, J, Singh, TP, Thamilarasan, M, Thornburg, C, Townsend, K, Welch, R, Xu, J & Zoubi, N 2005, 'Using acupressure to modify alertness in the classroom: A single-blinded, randomized, cross-over trial', Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 673-679. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2005.11.673

@article{0b307e09c7aa47d4a0a2bd25434964d7,

title = "Using acupressure to modify alertness in the classroom: A single-blinded, randomized, cross-over trial",

abstract = "Background: Previous reports have suggested that acupressure is effective in reducing pain and improving sleep quality; however, its effects on alertness have not been characterized. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether two different acupressure treatments have opposing effects on alertness in a full-day classroom setting. Design: This was a cross-over (two-treatments; three periods), single-blinded, randomized trial. Setting: The University of Michigan School of Public Health was the setting. Subjects: Students attending a course in clinical research design and statistical analysis at the University of Michigan participated in the study. Interventions and outcome measures: Blinded subjects were randomized to two acupressure treatment sequences: stimulation-relaxation-relaxation or relaxation-stimulation-stimulation. Acupressure treatments were self administered over 3 consecutive days. Pre- and post-treatment alertness scores were assessed each day using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). Changes in the SSS score (afternoon - morning) were analyzed using a mixed regression model of fixed and random effects. Important factors that were expected to affect alertness, such as caffeine and previous night's sleep, were also assessed. Results: Baseline characteristics and protocol compliance were similar between the two sequences. Stimulation acupressure treatment yielded a 0.56-point greater difference in score on the SSS, corresponding to less fatigue, compared to the relaxation acupressure treatment (p = 0.019). Day of study (p -0.004) and hours of overnight sleep (p = 0.042) also significantly affected the change in SSS scores. Incorporating participants' beliefs as to which treatment they received did not significantly alter the observed treatment effect. Conclusions: Acupressure at stimulation and relaxation points has differential effects on alertness in a classroom setting. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and to determine whether stimulation and relaxation acupressure are equally effective in influencing alertness.",

author = "Harris, {Richard E.} and Joanne Jeter and Paul Chan and Peter Higgins and Kong, {Feng Ming} and Reza Fazel and Candace Bramson and Brenda Gillespie and Ammar, {Khawaja Afzal} and Michelle Anderson and Ghassan Bachuwa and Adnan Beg and Devin Brown and Linda Brubaker and Steven Bruch and Giani Cazan-London and Bobby Clark and Paul Cronin and Brian DeSmet and Gary Hamman and Brent Hollenbeck and Jaquelyn Hunt and Susan Johnson and Sucheta Joshi and Liise Kayler and Aine Kelly and Kim Kenton and Wendy Marder and Mary Marzec and Gisele Neiva and Amanda Peltier and Panduranga Rao and Erik Roys and Joel Rubenstein and Jonathan Segal and Singh, {T. P.} and Maran Thamilarasan and Courtney Thornburg and Kevin Townsend and Robert Welch and Jinping Xu and Najeeb Zoubi",

year = "2005",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1089/acm.2005.11.673",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "11",

pages = "673--679",

journal = "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine",

issn = "1075-5535",

publisher = "Mary Ann Liebert Inc.",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Using acupressure to modify alertness in the classroom

T2 - A single-blinded, randomized, cross-over trial

AU - Harris, Richard E.

AU - Jeter, Joanne

AU - Chan, Paul

AU - Higgins, Peter

AU - Kong, Feng Ming

AU - Fazel, Reza

AU - Bramson, Candace

AU - Gillespie, Brenda

AU - Ammar, Khawaja Afzal

AU - Anderson, Michelle

AU - Bachuwa, Ghassan

AU - Beg, Adnan

AU - Brown, Devin

AU - Brubaker, Linda

AU - Bruch, Steven

AU - Cazan-London, Giani

AU - Clark, Bobby

AU - Cronin, Paul

AU - DeSmet, Brian

AU - Hamman, Gary

AU - Hollenbeck, Brent

AU - Hunt, Jaquelyn

AU - Johnson, Susan

AU - Joshi, Sucheta

AU - Kayler, Liise

AU - Kelly, Aine

AU - Kenton, Kim

AU - Marder, Wendy

AU - Marzec, Mary

AU - Neiva, Gisele

AU - Peltier, Amanda

AU - Rao, Panduranga

AU - Roys, Erik

AU - Rubenstein, Joel

AU - Segal, Jonathan

AU - Singh, T. P.

AU - Thamilarasan, Maran

AU - Thornburg, Courtney

AU - Townsend, Kevin

AU - Welch, Robert

AU - Xu, Jinping

AU - Zoubi, Najeeb

PY - 2005/8

Y1 - 2005/8

N2 - Background: Previous reports have suggested that acupressure is effective in reducing pain and improving sleep quality; however, its effects on alertness have not been characterized. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether two different acupressure treatments have opposing effects on alertness in a full-day classroom setting. Design: This was a cross-over (two-treatments; three periods), single-blinded, randomized trial. Setting: The University of Michigan School of Public Health was the setting. Subjects: Students attending a course in clinical research design and statistical analysis at the University of Michigan participated in the study. Interventions and outcome measures: Blinded subjects were randomized to two acupressure treatment sequences: stimulation-relaxation-relaxation or relaxation-stimulation-stimulation. Acupressure treatments were self administered over 3 consecutive days. Pre- and post-treatment alertness scores were assessed each day using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). Changes in the SSS score (afternoon - morning) were analyzed using a mixed regression model of fixed and random effects. Important factors that were expected to affect alertness, such as caffeine and previous night's sleep, were also assessed. Results: Baseline characteristics and protocol compliance were similar between the two sequences. Stimulation acupressure treatment yielded a 0.56-point greater difference in score on the SSS, corresponding to less fatigue, compared to the relaxation acupressure treatment (p = 0.019). Day of study (p -0.004) and hours of overnight sleep (p = 0.042) also significantly affected the change in SSS scores. Incorporating participants' beliefs as to which treatment they received did not significantly alter the observed treatment effect. Conclusions: Acupressure at stimulation and relaxation points has differential effects on alertness in a classroom setting. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and to determine whether stimulation and relaxation acupressure are equally effective in influencing alertness.

AB - Background: Previous reports have suggested that acupressure is effective in reducing pain and improving sleep quality; however, its effects on alertness have not been characterized. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether two different acupressure treatments have opposing effects on alertness in a full-day classroom setting. Design: This was a cross-over (two-treatments; three periods), single-blinded, randomized trial. Setting: The University of Michigan School of Public Health was the setting. Subjects: Students attending a course in clinical research design and statistical analysis at the University of Michigan participated in the study. Interventions and outcome measures: Blinded subjects were randomized to two acupressure treatment sequences: stimulation-relaxation-relaxation or relaxation-stimulation-stimulation. Acupressure treatments were self administered over 3 consecutive days. Pre- and post-treatment alertness scores were assessed each day using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). Changes in the SSS score (afternoon - morning) were analyzed using a mixed regression model of fixed and random effects. Important factors that were expected to affect alertness, such as caffeine and previous night's sleep, were also assessed. Results: Baseline characteristics and protocol compliance were similar between the two sequences. Stimulation acupressure treatment yielded a 0.56-point greater difference in score on the SSS, corresponding to less fatigue, compared to the relaxation acupressure treatment (p = 0.019). Day of study (p -0.004) and hours of overnight sleep (p = 0.042) also significantly affected the change in SSS scores. Incorporating participants' beliefs as to which treatment they received did not significantly alter the observed treatment effect. Conclusions: Acupressure at stimulation and relaxation points has differential effects on alertness in a classroom setting. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and to determine whether stimulation and relaxation acupressure are equally effective in influencing alertness.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=24644440465&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=24644440465&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1089/acm.2005.11.673

DO - 10.1089/acm.2005.11.673

M3 - Article

C2 - 16131291

AN - SCOPUS:24644440465

SN - 1075-5535

VL - 11

SP - 673

EP - 679

JO - Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

JF - Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

IS - 4

ER -

Using acupressure to modify alertness in the classroom: A single-blinded, randomized, cross-over trial

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this