Imagined Acupuncture for Postoperative Pain After Spinal Surgery
NCT ID: NCT07197710
Last Updated: 2025-09-29
Study Results
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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NOT_YET_RECRUITING
NA
120 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-10-01
2026-09-19
Brief Summary
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Does video-guided imagined acupuncture improve postoperative pain control?
Does the intervention reduce opioid consumption and improve functional recovery in the immediate postoperative period?
Researchers will compare the imagined acupuncture group to the control education video group to see if imagery-based intervention leads to better pain outcomes and reduced analgesic use.
Participants will:
Watch a 30-minute video once daily for 7 consecutive days after surgery
Complete pain and function assessments during the hospital stay and postoperative follow-up
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
DOUBLE
Study Groups
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Group 1: Imagined Acupuncture Intervention
Participants assigned to Group 1 will receive standard postoperative care and a daily VGAIT session once per day for seven consecutive days following surgery. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes and will be guided by a standardized video designed to induce acupuncture imagery and mental engagement. VGAIT will be administered at the same time each day (e.g., 9:00 AM ± 30 minutes). VAS and ODI assessments will be administered following the completion of the video session. The initial video session will be administered once the patient has fully regained consciousness in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) following surgery.
video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT)
Unlike traditional acupuncture, VGAIT can be self-administered and does not require physical needle insertion, making it a practical alternative for patients seeking non-invasive pain management.
Group 2: Education video
Participants in the control group will receive standard postoperative care and Education video without any simulated acupuncture intervention. VAS and ODI assessments will be conducted at the same intervals as in Group 1 for consistency and comparison.
Education video
Education video about postoperative precautions
Interventions
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video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT)
Unlike traditional acupuncture, VGAIT can be self-administered and does not require physical needle insertion, making it a practical alternative for patients seeking non-invasive pain management.
Education video
Education video about postoperative precautions
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Aged 18 years or older
* Willing and able to receive postoperative imagined acupuncture (VGAIT)
* Able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
* History of prior spinal surgery
* Intraoperative complications likely to interfere with postoperative pain assessment
* Diagnosed with severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders that impair participation or communication
* Pregnant or breastfeeding
* Unable to cooperate with treatment or pain assessments Individuals with uncorrectable vision impairment that would interfere with viewing study videos or completing study questionnaires.
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D.
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Staff Anesthesiologist & Pain Physician
References
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Kong J, Eshel MN. Applying the Power of the Mind in Acupuncture Treatment of Pain. Med Acupunct. 2020 Dec 1;32(6):367-372. doi: 10.1089/acu.2020.1477. Epub 2020 Dec 16.
Kong J, Kaptchuk TJ, Polich G, Kirsch I, Vangel M, Zyloney C, Rosen B, Gollub RL. An fMRI study on the interaction and dissociation between expectation of pain relief and acupuncture treatment. Neuroimage. 2009 Sep;47(3):1066-76. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.087. Epub 2009 Jun 6.
Cao J, Tu Y, Orr SP, Wilson G, Kong J. Modulatory Effects of Actual and Imagined Acupuncture on the Functional Connectivity of the Periaqueductal Gray and Ventral Tegmental Area. Psychosom Med. 2021 Oct 1;83(8):870-879. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000984.
Cao J, Tu Y, Orr SP, Lang C, Park J, Vangel M, Chen L, Gollub R, Kong J. Analgesic Effects Evoked by Real and Imagined Acupuncture: A Neuroimaging Study. Cereb Cortex. 2019 Jul 22;29(8):3220-3231. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhy190.
Cao J, Tu Y, Wilson G, Orr SP, Kong J. Characterizing the analgesic effects of real and imagined acupuncture using functional and structure MRI. Neuroimage. 2020 Nov 1;221:117176. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117176. Epub 2020 Jul 17.
Kong Q, Sacca V, Walker K, Hodges S, Kong J. Thalamocortical Mechanisms Underlying Real and Imagined Acupuncture. Biomedicines. 2023 Jun 26;11(7):1830. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11071830.
Cao J, Orr SP, Wilson G, Kong J. Imagined and Actual Acupuncture Effects on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Study. Neural Plast. 2020 Jul 1;2020:8579743. doi: 10.1155/2020/8579743. eCollection 2020.
Other Identifiers
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2025P001674
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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