Effect of Acupressure on Pulmonary Function of Workers Exposed to Sulfur Dioxide Gas

Acupressure is a branch of complementary medicine that is non-pharmacological and non-invasive. We conducted this technique to see its effect on pulmonary function in Rafsanjan Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex workers.

This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted on 82 workers with abnormal spirometry results. Respondents were selected by convenient sampling and then randomly divided into the two groups of 41 people. In the intervention group, after acupressure training, the participants were asked to stimulate 2 points first on one side of the body and then on the other side. The Two points were LU7 and LU9. The pressure was applied using fingers for 2 minutes at each point, at a specific time, and for 5 days by the participants themselves. In the control group, acupressure was used at ineffective points that the samples did not know about. FVC, FEV1 indices, and six-minute walk test (6MWT) in both groups were measured and compared before and after the intervention.

No significant difference was observed between the control and intervention groups before the study based on FVC, FEV1 and 6MWT scors.  There was also no difference in the control group before and after the study based on these indices. However, in the treatment group, the FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratios significantly increased after the intervention (P<0.05).

Acupressure can effectively improve the functional parameters of the lungs, especially in workers who suffer from pulmonary dysfunction due to occupational diseases.