Efficacy of Acupuncture for Shoulder Pain Based on Remote Point Selection According to the Meridians

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Acupuncture: In this study, both the acupuncture SC group and the acupuncture CS group will receive two acupuncture treatments in one session. The SC group will first receive acupuncture at the standardized acupoint followed by the controlled acupoint, while the CS group will first receive acupuncture at the controlled acupoint followed by the standardized acupoint.

Rehabilitation: Participants will complete a 30-minute rehabilitation session, which includes electrotherapy and thermotherapy applied to the shoulder.

Study summary

This double blind randomized controlled trial investigates the immediate efficacy of acupuncture for shoulder pain using remote point selection based on meridian theory. A total of 90 participants with shoulder pain (Numerical Rating Scale ≥ 4) will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three groups: acupuncture SC, acupuncture CS, and rehabilitation. Meridian selection will be determined based on the patient's most painful shoulder movement and corresponding pain location, followed by standardized distal acupoint application. Outcome measures include changes in pain intensity (NRS) and shoulder range of motion assessed at baseline, post-first acupuncture, post-second acupuncture, and 30 minutes post-treatment. Blinded evaluators will conduct all assessments. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of meridian-based remote acupuncture and explore its relationship with shoulder movement patterns and soft tissue involvement.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Pain Intensity (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS: 0-10) — Baseline evaluation before intervention. First evaluation: 3 minutes after the first acupuncture. Second evaluation: 3 minutes after the second acupuncture (8 minutes after the first). Final evaluation: 30 minutes after the first acupuncture.
  Patients will be asked to rate their pain intensity using a numerical scale. 0: No pain. 1-3: Mild pain - the patient feels pain but can tolerate it; normal daily activities and sleep are not disturbed. 4-6: Moderate pain - the pain is noticeable and difficult to tolerate; sleep may be disturbed, such as waking up due to pain; patients may request pain medication. 7-10: Severe pain - the pain is intense and intolerable; sleep is severely disturbed or impossible; pain medication is often necessary.

Trial sites (1)

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