Effects of different frequency electroacupuncture on mitochondrial function and oxidative stress injury in quadriceps femoris muscle of rabbits with anterior cruciate ligament injury

• Low-frequency electroacupuncture is superior to high-frequency electroacupuncture in alleviating oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial function in quadriceps femoris after anterior cruciate ligament injury. • Electroacupuncture reduces malondialdehyde and increases superoxide dismutase and succinate dehydrogenase activities, mitigating oxidative stress damage. • Electroacupuncture upregulates SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway and mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes (NRF1, TFAM), improving mitochondrial function. • The study provides basic research evidence for low-frequency electroacupuncture in treating muscle atrophy (Wei syndrome) after anterior cruciate ligament injury.