Imaging Metabolic and Perfusion Changes in Acupuncture Therapy for Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of California, Davis
About this trial
This study will evaluate the clinical and biological effects of acupuncture for chronic low back pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS).
In this randomized, participant- and assessor-blinded clinical trial, 64 adults with chronic low back pain due to MPS will be assigned to receive either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture for eight weeks. Participants will undergo total-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (TB-PET/CT) imaging and complete standardized pain and functional questionnaires at baseline and after treatment.
The study will evaluate whether acupuncture improves pain and function compared with sham treatment and whether TB-PET/CT imaging can detect changes in myofascial tissue metabolism and perfusion that correspond with clinical outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Ability to understand the purposes and risks of the trial and willingness to sign an informed consent form
Willingness and ability to comply with all protocol required procedures
Willingness to be randomized to receive either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture
Current self-report of chronic low back pain (cLBP) which has persisted for the past 3 months AND has resulted in pain on > 50% of days in the past 6 months
Disqualifiers
No Primary Care Physician
History of spine infection (discitis or osteomyelitis) or spine tumor
History of ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, psoriatic arthritis, or lupus
Confounding conditions that are known to be responsible for inducing pain
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Acupuncture
- Sham Acupuncture
- Total-Body PET/CT Imaging
Treatment groups
64 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsSponsors and collaborators
University of California, Davis
Lead sponsor
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Collaborator
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov