Hand Acupuncture for Pain

Overseen By Melissa Armbrecht

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Disqualifiers: Fracture, Malignancy, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

Duration: 1 session

120 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of this treatment?

Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for pain relief in conditions like osteoarthritis and chronic pain, suggesting it might help with pain management in this trial as well. Although one study found no difference between real and sham acupuncture for thumb arthritis, acupuncture was still comparable to standard treatments for pain relief. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is hand acupuncture generally safe for humans?

Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by trained professionals, with minor issues like bleeding or temporary pain being the most common. Serious problems are rare, but it's important to ensure the practitioner is well-qualified to minimize risks. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does One Needle Hand Acupuncture differ from other pain treatments?

One Needle Hand Acupuncture is unique because it involves using a single needle on the hand, potentially with movement, which is different from traditional acupuncture that may use multiple needles on various body parts. This method focuses on the hand, which is believed to have a holographic representation of the body, and emphasizes the role of the pressing hand to enhance the treatment's effectiveness. ^{1 2 11 12 13}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this research study is to study the method of acupuncture called one needle hand acupuncture, where a needle is placed just in your hand, in order to treat pain in various locations. Benefits of acupuncture will be studied over time to determine short and long term effects of acupuncture, and see how acupuncture may alter or modify a patient's disease process.

Research Team

Tonia Thompson

Principal Investigator

Washington University School of Medicine

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with primary pain in the neck, shoulder, low back, or hip rated at least 4 on a pain scale during certain movements. Participants must be willing to engage in the study and complete questionnaires.

Inclusion Criteria

My pain level is 4 or higher when I move in certain ways.

My main pain is in my neck, shoulder, lower back, or hip.

I am willing to join the study and complete questionnaires.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either verum hand acupuncture or control acupuncture, with or without movement, for 10 minutes

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants complete PROMIS measures and are monitored for changes in pain and range of motion

8 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Control Acupuncture with Movement
• One Needle Hand Acupuncture with Movement
• One Needle Hand Acupuncture without Movement

Trial Overview The study tests one needle hand acupuncture's effectiveness for treating musculoskeletal disorders. It compares three methods: control acupuncture with movement, one needle without movement, and one needle with movement over time.

Participant Groups

Group I: Verum Acupuncture with Movement Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Verum acupuncture along radial side of 2nd metacarpal, following by active movement of previously painful body part x 10 minutes.

Group II: Verum Acupuncture without Movement Active Control 1 Intervention

Verum acupuncture along radial side of 2nd metacarpal, following by laying on examination table x 10 minutes.

Group III: Control Acupuncture with Movement Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Sham/control acupuncture at acupoint LI4, following by active movement of previously painful body part x 10 minutes.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Washington University School of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,027

Recruited

2,353,000+

Findings from Research

A review of 8 hand acupuncture schools revealed inconsistencies in positioning methods and needling techniques, as well as a lack of clarity on the specific diseases treated, highlighting the need for standardization.

Future research should focus on optimizing hand acupuncture practices, developing quantitative standards, and promoting integration among different acupuncture schools to enhance the effectiveness and application of hand acupuncture therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Comparison of different schools of hand acupuncture therapies]. Wang, RQ., Zhang, ZD., Liu, JX., et al.[2021]

In a survey of 37,490 acupuncture treatments conducted by 222 Korean Medicine Doctors, adverse events (AEs) were reported at a frequency of 1,205 per 10,000 treatments, with common AEs including bleeding, needle site pain, and bruising.

Most reported AEs were mild and transient, with only two life-threatening cases that resolved without lasting effects, suggesting that acupuncture performed by qualified practitioners is generally safe.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of acupuncture by Korean Medicine Doctors: a prospective, practice-based survey of 37,490 consultations. Won, J., Lee, JH., Bang, H., et al.[2022]

A review of 23 observational studies on acupuncture-related adverse events revealed that many did not provide sufficient information to determine the cause of complications, highlighting a gap in reporting quality.

The study emphasizes the need for better involvement of acupuncture experts in reporting adverse events to improve the understanding and safety of acupuncture practices, particularly regarding infections.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Reporting Quality of Acupuncture-Related Infections in Korean Literature: A Systematic Review of Case Studies. Kim, TH., Kang, JW., Park, WS.[2022]

A systematic review of 115 Chinese-language articles identified 479 cases of adverse events related to acupuncture, with 14 reported deaths, highlighting significant safety concerns.

The most common adverse events included pneumothorax and infections, primarily resulting from improper techniques, indicating a need for improved monitoring and risk management in acupuncture practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture-related adverse events: a systematic review of the Chinese literature. Zhang, J., Shang, H., Gao, X., et al.[2022]

Acupuncture can lead to adverse events (AEs), including organ or tissue injuries, infections, local reactions, and other complications, with serious AEs being rare but potentially life-threatening, as highlighted by a review of 17 systematic reviews.

The overall methodological quality of the reviews on acupuncture AEs was mediocre, indicating a need for improved research standards and emphasizing the importance of patient safety and acupuncturist training in practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of Acupuncture: Overview of Systematic Reviews. Chan, MWC., Wu, XY., Wu, JCY., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 78 acupuncturists and 31,822 consultations, the incidence of adverse events was found to be 684 per 10,000 consultations, indicating that while acupuncture does have risks, they are relatively low when performed by trained professionals.

The most common minor adverse events included bleeding and needling pain, with 70% of symptom aggravations resolving afterward, and only 14 significant adverse events reported, suggesting that acupuncture is generally safe in skilled hands.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Survey of adverse events following acupuncture (SAFA): a prospective study of 32,000 consultations. White, A., Hayhoe, S., Hart, A., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of real versus sham acupuncture for basal thumb joint arthritis. [2021]

2. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Comparison of different schools of hand acupuncture therapies]. [2021]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for hand osteoarthritis: study protocol for a multi-center, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. [2022]

5. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Observation on the efficacy of acupuncture and fire needle therapy for hand osteoarthritis]. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of acupuncture by Korean Medicine Doctors: a prospective, practice-based survey of 37,490 consultations. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Reporting Quality of Acupuncture-Related Infections in Korean Literature: A Systematic Review of Case Studies. [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture-related adverse events: a systematic review of the Chinese literature. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of Acupuncture: Overview of Systematic Reviews. [2022]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Survey of adverse events following acupuncture (SAFA): a prospective study of 32,000 consultations. [2022]

11. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Role of pressing hand in the clinical practice of acupuncture]. [2018]

12. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Evidence of "who knows acupuncture believes the importance of the pressing hand" in ancient literatures and its clinical significance]. [2012]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is Skin-Touch Sham Needle Not Placebo? A Double-Blind Crossover Study on Pain Alleviation. [2020]