Brain Imaging Study of Acupuncture in Chronic Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT01614639

Last Updated: 2017-11-29

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

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

82 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2012-01-31

Study Completion Date

2017-10-31

Brief Summary

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We are doing this research study to learn about how acupuncture treatment works. This study is being done to look at changes in the brain, NOT to treat pain. We want to learn about brain activity during acupuncture. We will look at brain activity when a heating device touches the skin of a subject before and after the subject has acupuncture, to see what changes.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Low Back Pain Back Pain Lower Back Chronic Low Back Pain, Recurrent

Keywords

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Acupuncture fMRI CLBP Pain Low Back Pain Back Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Traditional Acupuncture

Traditional Acupuncture given at 2 visits.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acupuncture

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A licensed acupuncturist will perform acupuncture for two 30 minute sessions.

Electroacupuncture

Electro-acupuncture given at 2 visits.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acupuncture

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A licensed acupuncturist will perform acupuncture for two 30 minute sessions.

Interventions

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Acupuncture

A licensed acupuncturist will perform acupuncture for two 30 minute sessions.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Meet the Classification Criteria of chronic LBP (having low back pain for more than 6 months), as determined by the referring physician
* At least 4/10 clinical pain on the 10-point LBP intensity scale on average during the past two weeks prior to enrollment
* At least a 10th grade English-reading level; English can be a second language provided that the patients feel they understand all the questions used in the assessment measures
* Must have had a prior evaluation of their low back pain by a health care provider, which may include radiographic studies. Documentation of this evaluation will be obtained from the subject's medical record

Exclusion Criteria

* Specific causes of back pain (e.g., cancer, fractures, spinal stenosis, infections)
* Radicular pain extending below the knee
* Complicated back problems (e.g., prior back surgery, medicolegal issues)
* Possible contraindications for acupuncture (e.g., coagulation disorders, cardiac pacemakers, pregnancy, seizure disorder), and conditions that might confound treatment effects or interpretation of results (e.g., severe fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis)
* Conditions making study participation difficult (e.g., paralysis, psychoses, or other severe psychological problems as per the judgment of a study investigator and/or a T score \> 60 on the psychological measures assessed during Session 1)
* Prior acupuncture treatment for back pain; 1 year minimum wait for any condition other condition.
* Active substance abuse disorder in the past two years, as determined by subject self-report.
* The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study.
* History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome. For example: asthma or claustrophobia.
* Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning. For example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, fear of closed spaces, pregnancy.
* Unresolved legal/disability/workers compensation claims in connection with low back.
* Instability of pain ratings in Session 2 or Session 3.
* Use of more than 60 mg prescription opioids or steroids for pain.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Brigham and Women's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Robert Edwards

Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Robert R Edwards, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Locations

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MGH - Martinos Center

Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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P01AT006663-01

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

2011P000748

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id