Acupuncture biomechanics: From mechanical stimulation to biological effects

Abstract

How acupuncture works is of significant scientific value and strategic importance in life sciences. The efficacy of acupuncture has been validated in clinic for millennia and has been widely recognized globally. The effects of acupuncture involve complex, multilevel, and multi target biological processes, including the regulation of neural reflex pathways, release of endogenous substances, and remodeling of immune regulatory networks. However, previous research has predominantly focused on the molecular basis of signal transduction, neural coding principles, and systemic effects on bodily homeostasis, while overlooking a core element of the mechanical signals generated by acupuncture. Accordingly, we propose establishing acupuncture bomechanics as a new interdisciplinary discipline. This paper aims to systematically elucidate how acupuncture-induced mechanical stimuli propagate through biological tissues, how distinct cell populations mechanotransduce these signals, and the resulting systemic biological effects. Focusing on the mechanical signals generated by acupuncture manipulation, we analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of mechanical parameters as the basis for investigation. To this end, we seek to establish a quantitative characterization system and a cross-scale integration model to rigorously analyze acupuncture mechanics. This mode of investigation includes the standardization of parameters for mechanical action, the modeling of acupuncture dose-effect relationships, and the mechanistic analysis of individual variability. By employing the characteristic spectrum of mechanical signals to predict therapeutic efficacy and refine manipulation strategies, the overarching goal is to establish acupuncture treatment protocols that are quantifiable, and verifiable. The development of acupuncture biomechanics as a discipline would offer a novel mechanical perspective on the mechanisms underlying acupuncture effects, catalyzing theoretical advancements that modernize acupuncture, and then pave the way for innovative theoretical frameworks in medicine and transformative shifts in clinical treatment paradigms.