Auricular Acupressure and Limb Massage for Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury

NCT ID: NCT06700278

Last Updated: 2025-02-26

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

90 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-04-01

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This randomized controlled trial included 90 patients with spinal cord injury, divided into an experimental group and a control group (45 each). The experimental group received auricular acupressure alongside rehabilitation therapy, while the control group received body acupoint massage alongside rehabilitation therapy. The intervention targeted specific auricular and body acupoints, performed three times daily, five days a week, for three weeks.

Detailed Description

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This study is a randomized controlled trial conducted in the rehabilitation ward of National Taiwan University Hospital, using a convenience sampling method. A total of 90 spinal cord injury patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=45) or the control group (n=45).

The experimental group will receive auricular acupressure in addition to rehabilitation therapy. The selected auricular acupoints include Shenmen (TF4), Subcortex (AT1), Liver (CO12), and Sympathetic (AH6a).

The control group will receive body acupoint massage in addition to rehabilitation therapy. The selected body acupoints include Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zusanli (ST36).

Both groups will receive acupoint massage three times daily, with each acupoint being massaged for three minutes. The applied pressure will be adjusted to induce sensations of soreness, numbness, fullness, or mild pain. The intervention will be conducted five days per week for a total of three weeks.

Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injury

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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experimental group

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

auricular acupressure

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

auricular acupressure was performed three times daily, with each acupoint massaged for three minutes at an optimal pressure level that induced sensations of soreness, numbness, distension, or mild pain. This was conducted five days a week for three weeks, in addition to regular rehabilitation therapy provided five days per week.The selected auricular acupoints include Shenmen (TF4), Subcortex (AT1), Liver (CO12), and Sympathetic (AH6a).

control group

Routine rehabilitation therapy and body acupoint massage.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

body acupoint massage

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The control group will receive acupoint massage three times daily, with each acupoint being massaged for three minutes. The applied pressure will be adjusted to induce sensations of soreness, numbness, fullness, or mild pain. The intervention will be conducted five days per week for a total of three weeks. The selected body acupoints include Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zusanli (ST36).

Interventions

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auricular acupressure

auricular acupressure was performed three times daily, with each acupoint massaged for three minutes at an optimal pressure level that induced sensations of soreness, numbness, distension, or mild pain. This was conducted five days a week for three weeks, in addition to regular rehabilitation therapy provided five days per week.The selected auricular acupoints include Shenmen (TF4), Subcortex (AT1), Liver (CO12), and Sympathetic (AH6a).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

body acupoint massage

The control group will receive acupoint massage three times daily, with each acupoint being massaged for three minutes. The applied pressure will be adjusted to induce sensations of soreness, numbness, fullness, or mild pain. The intervention will be conducted five days per week for a total of three weeks. The selected body acupoints include Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zusanli (ST36).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Over 18 years old.
2. Spinal cord injury due to traumatic or non-traumatic reasons.
3. Within one year after spinal cord injury.
4. Spinal cord injuries are classified into ASIA grades B to D.
5. DN4 scale ≥ 4 points and PainDETECT scale ≥ 19 points.
6. Able to communicate in Mandarin and Taiwanese or able to read and write Chinese.

Exclusion Criteria

1. The auricle and surrounding skin are injured, infected or susceptible.
2. Nerve block surgery has been performed previously.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Taiwan University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Weng YUE CI

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

National Taiwan University Hospital

Central Contacts

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Weng YUE CI

Role: CONTACT

+886 972739669

Other Identifiers

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202409079RIND

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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