Acupressure for Cancer Survivors

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Untreated anemia, Mood disorder, Hypothyroidism, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

30 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This clinical trial tests the feasibility of self-administered relaxing acupressure on fatigue in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Acupressure, a type of complementary or alternative medicine, is the application of pressure or localized massage to specific sites on the body to control symptoms. Relaxing acupressure has been shown to improve cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in adults, however, less is known about the impact of relaxing acupressure on CRF in AYA cancer survivors."

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop your current medications, but you can continue usual treatments for fatigue if they started at least eight weeks before joining the study and the dose hasn't changed.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Self-Administered Relaxing Acupressure for cancer survivors?

Research suggests that self-acupressure can help manage symptoms like pain, fatigue, and sleep issues in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It has also been shown to significantly reduce fatigue in breast cancer survivors, making it a promising, easy-to-use, and non-toxic option for improving quality of life. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is acupressure safe for cancer survivors?

Acupressure is generally considered safe for cancer survivors, with studies showing it to be non-toxic and easy to use. Very few minor side effects have been reported, and it has been used to manage symptoms like fatigue and nausea with positive outcomes. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

How is the treatment Self-Administered Relaxing Acupressure unique for cancer survivors?

Self-Administered Relaxing Acupressure is unique because it is a non-toxic, easy-to-use treatment that cancer survivors can perform themselves to reduce symptoms like fatigue, pain, and insomnia, without the need for medication or in-person visits. ^{1 2 3 5 7}

Research Team

Robert Knoerl

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors who are experiencing fatigue. The specific eligibility criteria aren't provided, but typically participants must meet certain health conditions to be included.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 15 and 39 years old.

Speak/read English

CRF started at or after the diagnosis of cancer

Exclusion Criteria

I am not starting new treatments for cancer-related fatigue during the study but can continue my current ones if they began 8 weeks before joining.

I have been diagnosed with anemia, a mood disorder, or hypothyroidism that hasn't been treated.

Plan to become pregnant or lactating during the study period

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants self-administer relaxing or sham acupressure using a mobile application and AcuWand for 27 minutes daily over 6 weeks

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in fatigue and satisfaction with the intervention

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Self-Administered Relaxing Acupressure

Trial Overview The study is testing if self-administered relaxing acupressure can reduce fatigue in these individuals. It involves using a medical device or technique to apply pressure on the body, along with questionnaires, interviews, and internet-based interventions.

Participant Groups

Group I: ARM I (relaxing acupressure) Experimental Treatment 5 Interventions

Patients receive access to acupressure mobile application and an AcuWand on study and self-administer relaxing acupressure to 9 acupoints over 27 minutes QD for 6 weeks.

Group II: ARM II (sham acupressure) Placebo Group 5 Interventions

Patients receive access to acupressure mobile application and an AcuWand and self-administer sham acupressure to non-acupressure point locations over 27 minutes QD for 6 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

303

Recruited

20,700+

Findings from Research

Self-acupressure was found to be feasible and showed clinical significance in reducing insomnia, anxiety, and depression symptoms in cancer patients, particularly in the true acupressure group after 4 weeks of intervention.

Both true and sham acupressure groups reported lower insomnia and anxiety scores compared to the enhanced standard care group, indicating potential effectiveness and a possible placebo effect in managing these symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot randomized sham-controlled trial of self-acupressure to manage the symptom cluster of insomnia, depression, and anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Hoang, HTX., Molassiotis, A., Chan, CW., et al.[2022]

A study involving 60 patients with pancreatic or colon cancer showed that self-acupressure significantly reduced pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances compared to a control group that did not receive any intervention.

The intervention consisted of 16 self-acupressure sessions over 4 weeks, demonstrating that this method is an effective, accessible, and low-cost option for managing symptoms related to chemotherapy in cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of Self-Acupressure on Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Colon and Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Study. Bahçecioğlu Turan, G., Özer, Z., Yanmış, S., et al.[2023]

A randomized clinical trial involving 375 breast cancer survivors is investigating the efficacy of two types of self-administered acupressure (relaxation and stimulating) in reducing moderate to severe fatigue, with assessments at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks.

Preliminary evidence suggests that acupressure could be a low-cost, non-toxic intervention that significantly alleviates cancer-related fatigue, potentially offering a practical self-care option for survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupressure for persistent cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors (AcuCrft): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Zick, SM., Wyatt, GK., Murphy, SL., et al.[2022]

Self-administered acupressure has been shown to be effective and safe in alleviating symptoms across various health issues, including allergic diseases, cancer-related nausea, respiratory problems, dysmenorrhea, and sleep disturbances, based on a review of 10 studies involving randomized controlled trials.

The studies indicated moderate quality with a low risk of bias in many areas, suggesting that self-acupressure can significantly improve symptom scores, but further research with larger and better-designed trials is needed to confirm its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of self-acupressure for symptom management: a systematic review. Song, HJ., Seo, HJ., Lee, H., et al.[2022]

A retrospective review of 32 cancer patients receiving virtual acupressure sessions showed a significant reduction in overall symptom burden, with a decrease of 4.9 points on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) after follow-up, indicating potential efficacy of this remote intervention.

The study highlighted that virtual acupressure not only reduced total symptom burden but also improved physical and emotional symptoms, suggesting it could be a valuable supportive care option for cancer patients during disruptions in in-person services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual acupressure for symptom management in cancer populations during COVID-19: a retrospective analysis. Yang, E., Lu, W., Tanasijevic, AM., et al.[2023]

Acupoint stimulation, particularly acupressure on the P6 acupoint, has shown positive effects in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients, with 88% of the 26 trials reviewed reporting beneficial outcomes.

However, only 35% of the trials were of high quality, indicating a need for more rigorously designed studies to confirm the efficacy of acupoint stimulation for other therapy-related adverse events.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy of acupoint stimulation for the management of therapy-related adverse events in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review. Chao, LF., Zhang, AL., Liu, HE., et al.[2022]

Acupressure significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue in survivors, with the relaxation acupressure (RA) group experiencing the greatest reduction in fatigue levels after 12 weeks of treatment.

The study suggests that self-administered relaxation acupressure is a viable alternative for managing persistent cancer-related fatigue, as it provided clinically relevant improvements compared to high-dose and low-dose stimulatory acupressure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relaxation acupressure reduces persistent cancer-related fatigue. Zick, SM., Alrawi, S., Merel, G., et al.[2022]

References

1. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot randomized sham-controlled trial of self-acupressure to manage the symptom cluster of insomnia, depression, and anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. [2022]

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

The Effects of Self-Acupressure on Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Colon and Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Study. [2023]

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

Acupressure for persistent cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors (AcuCrft): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2022]

4. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of self-acupressure for symptom management: a systematic review. [2022]

5. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual acupressure for symptom management in cancer populations during COVID-19: a retrospective analysis. [2023]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy of acupoint stimulation for the management of therapy-related adverse events in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review. [2022]

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

Relaxation acupressure reduces persistent cancer-related fatigue. [2022]