Examples of actions of MARS (Meridian Activation Remedy System). All acupoints are located in the arms and legs. Exercises consist of actions that activate the (A) three hand-yin meridians, (B) three hand-yang meridians, (C) three foot-yin meridians, and (D) three foot-yang meridians.|@|~(^,^)~|@|Effectiveness evaluation of MARS using MDS-UPDRS. The subjects’ (n = 13) (A) average (mean ± SD) MDS-UPDRS Part I scores before (16.0 ± 8.1) and after (16.1 ± 8.0) 8 weeks of MARS intervention, p > 0.05. (B) Average MDS-UPDRS part II scores before (15.4 ± 8.9) and after (13.1 ± 7.6) 8 weeks of intervention, p > 0.05. (C) Average MDS-UPDRS part III scores before (20.0 ± 11.8) and after (8.8 ± 5.5) 8 weeks of intervention, **p = 0.003. (D) Average MDS-UPDRS part IV scores before (7.3 ± 4.0) and after (5.0 ± 3.3) 8 weeks of intervention, p > 0.05. MARS = Meridian Activation Remedy System; MDS-UPDRS = The Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale.|@|~(^,^)~|@|Cortical activation measured by fNIRS. (A) Compared with the baseline, HbO concentration in the time series increased in the above channels (10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 22, and 28) after 8 weeks of intervention, however, without statistical significance (p > 0.05). (B) Mapping changes in the cerebral cortex. After 8 weeks of MARS intervention, cortical activities near S4 and D7 regions were higher compared to the baseline. The results, however, were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). fNIRS = functional near-infrared spectroscopy.|@|~(^,^)~|@|Effectiveness evaluation of MARS using other secondary outcomes. Average changes (mean ± SD) in (A) 10-meter walk test time (10MWT); (9.5 ± 1.8 seconds at the baseline, 8.7 ± 1.3 seconds at the endpoint, *p = 0.040). (B) Timed up and go time (TUG); (9.8 ± 1.8 seconds at the baseline, 8.9 ± 1.4 seconds at the endpoint, *p = 0.040). (C) 360-degree turn test (8.5 ± 1.7 steps at the baseline, 7.9 ± 1.6 steps at the endpoint, p > 0.05). (D) Berg balance scale score (BBS); (55.7 ± 0.5 at the baseline, 55.9 ± 0.3 at the endpoint, p > 0.05). (E) Falls efficacy scale score (FES); (77.8 ± 21.8 at the baseline, 87.7 ± 15.9 at the endpoint, p > 0.05). (F) EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire 5 dimensions score (EQ-5D); (9.7 ± 3.5 at the baseline, 9.2 ± 2.1 at the endpoint, p > 0.05). (G) EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire VAS score (EQ-5D [VAS]); (61.5 ± 16.7 at the baseline, 63.8 ± 15.1 at the endpoint, p > 0.05). (H) Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 score (PDQ-39); (52.2 ± 26.1 at the baseline, 45.0 ± 25.3 at the endpoint, p > 0.05) of 13 PD patients as a result of 8-week MARS intervention. MARS = Meridian Activation Remedy System.

J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2024;17:55~68 https://doi.org/10.51507/j.jams.2024.17.2.55