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

NCT06939309 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CMUH113-REC3-192
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

Shoulder Pain; Acupuncture; Meridians

Keywords

Shoulder pain; Acupuncture; Meridians

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Intensity (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS: 0-10)

  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.

  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.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Range of Motion

  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.

Study Arms (3)

Acupuncture SC Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The most affected meridian is determined based on location and movements. The physician first applies acupuncture to one standardized acupoint (LI10, TE7, SI7, or LU6) on the most affected meridian. After 3 minutes (3 minutes after the first acupuncture), the assessor performs the first evaluation. The physician then applies acupuncture to a controlled acupoint (PC6) not directly related to shoulder function. After another 5 minutes (8 minutes after the first acupuncture), the assessor performs the second evaluation. The final evaluation is conducted 30 minutes after the first acupuncture. The patient is instructed to perform shoulder movements throughout the treatment.

Procedure: Acupuncture

Acupuncture CS Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The most affected meridian is determined using the same method by location and movements. The physician first applies acupuncture to the controlled acupoint (PC6). After 3 minutes, the assessor performs the first evaluation. The physician then applies acupuncture to one standardized acupoint (LI10, TE7, SI7, or LU6) on the most affected meridian. After another 5 minutes (8 minutes after the first acupuncture), the assessor performs the second evaluation. The final evaluation is conducted 30 minutes after the first acupuncture. The patient is instructed to perform shoulder movements throughout the treatment.

Procedure: Acupuncture

Rehabilitation Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will complete a 30-minute rehabilitation session, followed by an outcome assessment.

Procedure: Rehabilitation

Interventions

Acupuncture PROCEDURE

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.

Acupuncture CS Group; Acupuncture SC Group

Rehabilitation PROCEDURE

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

Rehabilitation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants must be at least 18 years old.
• Shoulder pain persisting for at least one week.
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥ 4.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with cervical radiculopathy or other localized neurological disorders affecting the upper limb.
• Psychiatric disorders that may interfere with examination, treatment, or evaluation of disease progression.
• Pregnant patients.
• Inability to provide informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• China Medical University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare

Taichung, 403, Taiwan

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Chandran KP, Chandran PP, Arumugam N, Muthappan S. Effect of Remote and Local Acupuncture Points on Periarthritis of Shoulder: A Comparative Study. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2021 Feb 28;14(1):13-20. doi: 10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.1.13.

  PMID: 35770597 RESULT

• Chen IW, Liao YT, Tseng H, Lin HC, Chou LW. Pain, function and peritendinous effusion improvement after dry needling in patients with long head of biceps brachii tendinopathy: a single-blind randomized clinical trial. Ann Med. 2024 Dec;56(1):2391528. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2391528. Epub 2024 Aug 14.

  PMID: 39140690 RESULT

• Takakura N, Takayama M, Kawase A, Kaptchuk TJ, Kong J, Vangel M, Yajima H. Acupuncture for Japanese Katakori (Chronic Neck Pain): A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Dec 9;59(12):2141. doi: 10.3390/medicina59122141.

  PMID: 38138244 RESULT

• Calamita SAP, Biasotto-Gonzalez DA, De Melo NC, Fumagalli MA, Amorim CF, de Paula Gomes CAF, Politti F. Immediate Effect of Acupuncture on Electromyographic Activity of the Upper Trapezius Muscle and Pain in Patients With Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Sham-Controlled, Crossover Study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018 Mar-Apr;41(3):208-217. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.09.006.

  PMID: 29549891 RESULT

• Ben-Arie E, Kao PY, Lee YC, Ho WC, Chou LW, Liu HP. The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Sep 25;2020:9790470. doi: 10.1155/2020/9790470. eCollection 2020.

  PMID: 33062030 RESULT

• Green S, Buchbinder R, Hetrick S. Acupuncture for shoulder pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Apr 18;2005(2):CD005319. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005319.

  PMID: 15846753 RESULT

• Schroder S, Meyer-Hamme G, Friedemann T, Kirch S, Hauck M, Plaetke R, Friedrichs S, Gulati A, Briem D. Immediate Pain Relief in Adhesive Capsulitis by Acupuncture-A Randomized Controlled Double-Blinded Study. Pain Med. 2017 Nov 1;18(11):2235-2247. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx052.

  PMID: 28371868 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Shoulder Pain

Interventions

Acupuncture Therapy; Rehabilitation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthralgia; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Central Study Contacts

Shih-Liang Yang

CONTACT

+886-4-22294411; YSL451YSL@yahoo.com.tw

Dong-Sheng Yang

CONTACT

+886-4-22294411; dawndawn0226@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 15, 2025
• First Posted: April 22, 2025
• Study Start: April 18, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)