Imagined Acupuncture for Postoperative Pain After Spinal Surgery

NCT07197710 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025P001674
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether imagined acupuncture can reduce postoperative acute pain in adult patients undergoing spinal surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: 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

Conditions

Pain Management

Keywords

Postoperative Acute Pain; Imagined Acupuncture

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Pain Scores (VAS)

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) daily, including VAS at rest, VAS on movement

  During the first postoperative week (Days 0-6)

• 2) Functional Scores (ODI)

  Functional status will be evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

  On postoperative Day6

• 3) Rescue Opioid Consumption

  The total amount of rescue opioid medication used during the first postoperative week will be recorded in milligrams (oral and intravenous)

  On postoperative Day6

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• 1) Time to First Rescue Analgesia

  On postoperative Day6

• 2) Total Analgesic Consumption

  On postoperative Day6

• 3) Length of Hospital Stay

  On postoperative Day6

• 4) Adverse Effects

  On postoperative Day6

• 5) Additional Assessment Tools

  On postoperative Day6

Study Arms (2)

Group 1: Imagined Acupuncture Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Other: video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT)

Group 2: Education video

SHAM COMPARATOR

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.

Other: Education video

Interventions

video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT) OTHER

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 1: Imagined Acupuncture Intervention

Education video OTHER

Education video about postoperative precautions

Group 2: Education video

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Undergoing 1- to 2-level primary spine surgery
• Aged 18 years or older
• Willing and able to receive postoperative imagined acupuncture (VGAIT)
• Able to provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Undergoing revision surgery or procedures involving more than 3 spinal levels
• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D.: lead

Related Publications (7)

• 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.

  PMID: 33362889 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 19501656 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 34292206 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 30137262 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 32682992 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 37509469 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 32684925 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Agnosia; Pain, Postoperative

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pain

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor Staff Anesthesiologist & Pain Physician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2025
• First Posted: September 29, 2025
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 19, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 19, 2026
• Last Updated: September 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share