Effects of Combined Heat Application and Acupressure to the Carotid Artery Region on Cerebral Blood Flow in Healthy Adults

NCT07324226 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 21-2025-010
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 9
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of combined heat application and acupressure to the carotid artery region on cerebral blood flow in healthy adults

Conditions

Healthy Subjects/Volunteers

Keywords

Carotid artery; Heat application; SPECT imaging; Acupressure Combined heat and acupressure; Cerebral blood flow; Single-group prospective study; Single-center study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• A SPECT CT brain scan

  Cerebral blood flow change rate analysis: For each participant, the percentage change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) observed on SPECT imaging compared with the baseline time point will be quantitatively analyzed at the following three time points. Radiopharmaceutical injection reference times: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 20 minutes after injection.

  In the post-SPECT protocol, the radiopharmaceutical will be administered at 5 minutes (n=3), 10 minutes (n=3), and 20 minutes (n=3) after the start of image acquisition.

Study Arms (1)

Combined heat and acupressure

EXPERIMENTAL

Combined heat and acupressure

Device: Combined heat and acupressure

Interventions

Combined heat and acupressure DEVICE

Press the start button to activate the automatic mode. When the start button is pressed, the device operates for approximately 40 minutes. When the start button is pressed, acupressure massage is performed with a single back-and-forth cycle from acupressure bar No. 1 to No. 18. The device then performs back-and-forth acupressure massage between acupressure bars No. 18 and No. 13 for the remaining time. After operating for 40 minutes in automatic mode, the mattress heating unit, the acupressure bar heating unit, and the acupressure bar movement are all turned off. 1. Press the shoulder button. The acupressure bar operates in the neck-to-shoulder section (acupressure bars No. 1 to 6), and both the mattress heating unit and the acupressure bar heating unit are activated. 2. After operating for 20 minutes in manual mode, the mattress heating unit, the acupressure bar heating unit, and the acupressure bar movement are turned off.

Combined heat and acupressure

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 40 to 65 years.
• Individuals with no history of cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or neurological diseases.
• Individuals who have signed the informed consent form and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with a history of cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or neurological diseases (e.g., stroke, angina, epilepsy).
• Individuals currently taking medications that may affect cerebral blood flow (such as antihypertensive agents or antidepressants).
• Individuals with skin diseases or lesions that make it difficult to apply heat or acupressure devices to the carotid artery region, and individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Individuals with a history of seizures.
• Individuals who have participated in clinical studies two or more times in the same year, or who have participated in another clinical study within the past 6 months.
• Individuals who, in the judgment of the principal investigator or sub-investigator, have clinically significant findings that make them unsuitable for participation in this study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Rehab lab, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital

Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, 50612, South Korea

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Acupressure

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Central Study Contacts

Jisoo Baik, Doctoral

CONTACT

82+055-360-4159; zisoo@pusan.ac.kr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 23, 2025
• First Posted: January 7, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: January 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

KR (1)