Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the Koryo Hand Acupuncture Therapy on middle-age women's obesity index.
METHODS
A total of 38 middle-age women were assigned to either a control or an intervention group. The intervention group received Koryo Hand Acupuncture Therapy three times a week for ten weeks. The two sample t-test was used to compare the body mass index, fat mass, and waist-to-hip ratio between the intervention (n=18) and the control group (n=20).
RESULTS
In both groups, body mass index did not change significantly following the intervention. The intervention group lost 1.00+/-1.10 kg of fat mass (p=.00) and the decrease was significant between the intervention and control group (p=.00). Both groups had increase in waist-to-hip ratio, however, the increase was only significant for the control group (p=.00).
CONCLUSION
The application of Koryo Hand Acupuncture Therapy influenced the change of fat mass, but not clinically significant. It may be useful to repeat the study and to examine other factors that may have interfered with the effectiveness of the intervention. The use of Koryo hand acupuncture therapy should be further studied.

• Keywords: Complementary therapies; Anthropometry; Middle aged