Investigation of the Effect of Acupuncture Needling on Connective Tissue Using Ultrasound Elastography

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Brief Summary

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During acupuncture treatment, acupuncture needles are inserted and manipulated until a characteristic local tissue reaction termed "de qi" is observed. De qi can be perceived by the acupuncturist in the form of "needle grasp", a mechanical gripping of the needle by the tissue. De qi is considered essential to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. Therefore, the investigator proposes that understanding this local tissue reaction will lead to an understanding of how the therapeutic effect of acupuncture therapy arises. Specifically, it is hypothesized that needle manipulation causes winding of collagen and elastic fibers around the needle. This action induces tension in the collagen network surrounding the needling site and results in a mechanical signal that is transduced into local cells. The objective of the current work is to use ultrasound elastography, a recently developed ultrasound imaging technique, to visualize and quantify changes in the elastic properties of skin and subcutaneous tissue in 12 healthy human volunteers as a result of acupuncture needle manipulation.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Healthy

Keywords

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elastic property of skin

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

NATURAL_HISTORY

Study Time Perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Interventions

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Acupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

55 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Locations

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University of Vermont

Burlington, Vermont, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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M01RR000109

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

NCRR-M01RR00109-0745

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id