Acupuncture in Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Dry needling versus magnesium sulfate iontophoresis of active trigger points of the axioscapular muscle in neck pain: a single blind randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Shimaa T Abu El Kasem, Engy B Moustafa, Alshaymaa S Abd El-Azeim","doi":"10.1177/09645284251410579","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251410579","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare the effects of dry needling (DN) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) iontophoresis on pressure pain threshold (PPT), neck disability, pain intensity and muscle activity/amplitude in patients with upper-trapezius active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) and neck pain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty subjects with neck pain and cervical myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) of the upper trapezius muscles were randomly assigned into a DN group that received DN and stretching of all cervical muscles, an iontophoresis group that received MgSO4 iontophoresis and stretching of all cervical muscles or a control group C that received only stretching of all cervical muscles. The subjects received the treatment twice a week for 4 weeks. PPT, Arabic neck disability index (ANDI), pain intensity visual analogue scale (VAS) and cervical muscle amplitude (assessed by electromyography and expressed as a normalized root mean square (RMS)) were measured before and after completion of the treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the within-group analysis, there were statistically significant differences pre- versus post-treatment in all variables in both experimental groups (p < 0.05) but no significant differences in the control group with the single exception of pain intensity. In the between-group analysis post-treatment, there were statistically significant differences between all three groups. Compared with the iontophoresis group, the DN group showed significant improvements in VAS (mean difference (MD) -2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.84 to -1.36; p < 0.01), RMS (MD -1.32, 95% CI -1.79 to -0.85; p < 0.001), ANDI (MD -2.60, 95% CI -4.50 to -0.70; p = 0.004) and PPT (MD 1.48, 95% CI 1.01-1.95; p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DN and MgSO4 iontophoresis both had positive effects on PPT, ANDI, VAS and muscle amplitude in the treatment of neck pain subjects with upper-trapezius MTrPs. DN had a superior effect than MgSO4 iontophoresis for all outcomes studied.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"3-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electroacupuncture modulates myocardial insulin signaling and inflammatory markers in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.","authors":"Xiao-Xiao Liu, Hai-Hua Zhang, Jian Sun, Xiao-Zhuan Chen, Yang-Yang Ye, Jing-Yi Quan, Lu Zhang, Lin-Lin Nie, Min Li, Zhi-Xing Li","doi":"10.1177/09645284251399239","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251399239","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on myocardial insulin resistance (IR) in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, an established model for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-four ZDF-Lepr^fa/fa rats were randomized to: (1) ZDF group (n = 8); (2) ZDF + PIO (pioglitazone) group (n = 8); and (3) ZDF + EA group (n = 8). An additional control group of eight healthy ZDF^+/fa rats was included (Lean group). We examined protein and mRNA expression levels of critical insulin signaling pathway intermediates including insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), as well as serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and C-reactive protein. Echocardiography and cardiac histology were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant improvements in glucose metabolism, reflected in reduced fasting insulin levels and fasting blood glucose levels, were demonstrated after EA and PIO treatment. EA treatment also led to a notable decrease in inflammatory cytokine levels. In addition, there were marked improvements in myocardial structural integrity, as evidenced by histological analyses. Moreover, increased GLUT4 expression in myocardial tissue suggested improved insulin signaling, further supported by reductions in markers of myocardial injury such as serum troponin T type 2 (TNNT2) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EA ameliorated myocardial IR in a rat model of T2DM and positively impacted TNNT2 and BNP levels, as well as phosphorylation status and mRNA expression of several genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway. Our findings underscore the potential of EA to modulate multiple therapeutic targets in the treatment of myocardial IR. If these effects can be replicated clinically, EA may represent a promising non-pharmacological option for the management of cardiometabolic risks associated with diabetes.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"36-48"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145647071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Consultation and Relational Empathy measure for acupuncturists: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Toshihiro Koyama, Noriyuki Takahashi, Takaharu Matsuhisa, Muneyoshi Aomatsu, Nobutaro Ban, Stewart W Mercer, Juichi Sato","doi":"10.1177/09645284251411843","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251411843","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Acupuncturists must treat their patients empathetically, as this influences the outcome of acupuncture treatment. While the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure is used globally to assess physician's empathy from the patient's perspective, to our knowledge, it has not been validated as a tool to assess acupuncturists' empathy with general patients.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the CARE measure to assess acupuncturist's empathy from the patient's perspective.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 22 acupuncturists participated in this study. Face validity was examined by the number of \"not applicable\" and missing items in the Japanese CARE measure. Construct (convergent) validity was evaluated based on the correlation between the Japanese CARE measure total score and overall treatment satisfaction. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Inter-rater reliability was examined based on generalizability theory. Principal component loadings were obtained using principal component analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 669 questionnaires were analyzed (response rate of 80.0%). The number of \"not applicable\" (0%-1.2%) and missing (0%-0.4%) responses were minimal, confirming face validity. The Japanese CARE measure total score and overall treatment satisfaction showed a strong positive correlation (Spearman's ρ = 0.719, p < 0.001), confirming construct (convergent) validity. The questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.979, confirming the reliability of internal consistency. To reliably estimate an acupuncturist's empathy, 24 patient ratings per acupuncturist were needed. One principal component was identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study confirms the validity and reliability of the Japanese CARE measure for acupuncturists. It is expected to be utilized in both clinical practice and research.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"14-24"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146049749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immediate effect of acupuncture on abnormal antagonist activity in a chronic post-stroke patient: a case report.","authors":"Ruka Nobe","doi":"10.1177/09645284261415899","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261415899","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261415899"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146096810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perioperative intradermal acupuncture reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting after cerebellopontine angle tumor resection: a randomized clinical trial including mechanistic insights.","authors":"Lingyun Lu, Xianhao Huang, Ci Liu, Xiaoyu Wang, Jianqin Lv","doi":"10.1177/09645284251399690","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251399690","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of intradermal acupuncture (IA) at PC6 on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following cerebellopontine angle tumor resection, and to investigate possible mechanisms of action.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventy patients scheduled for elective craniotomy were randomized into IA or sham IA (Sham) groups, with interventions applied 1 h before surgery and continued for 24 h postoperatively. Co-primary outcomes were the incidence of vomiting at 0-6 h and 6-24 h post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of nausea and pain intensity. Electrogastrography (EGG) and heart rate variability (HRV) were used to assess gastric activity and autonomic nerve function, respectively. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was also performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The incidence of vomiting at 6-24 h (but not 0-6 h) post-surgery was significantly lower in the IA group (12.1%) compared to the Sham group (36.4%; <i>p</i> = 0.022). IA significantly reduced the incidence of nausea at 0-6 h (48.5% vs 78.8%; <i>p</i> = 0.011) but not 6-24 h. HRV analysis showed a higher HF component in the IA group post-surgery. Metabolomic analyses revealed significant changes in multiple metabolites and pathways in serum and CSF.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IA stimulation at PC6 effectively reduced postoperative vomiting at 6-24 h following cerebellopontine angle tumor resection and may also reduce early nausea (at 0-6 h). The mechanisms of action underlying these effects potentially include modulation of vagus nerve activity and regulation of metabolic pathways.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>ChiCTR2100049992 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry).</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"330-343"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145627751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture in postmenopausal women with overactive bladder: a multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel clinical trial.","authors":"Eun-Ji Noh, Su-Ji Choi, Dong-Il Kim, Eun-Young Nam, Chi-Yeon Lim, Jang-Kyung Park, Won-Suk Sung","doi":"10.1177/09645284251399237","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251399237","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common disease in menopausal women that can negatively affect a patient's quality of life and cause high stress levels. Despite several studies of the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) on OAB, to our knowledge, there has been no direct comparison between EA and MA for postmenopausal OAB in a single trial. The object of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of EA at two frequencies (2 and 16 Hz) and MA for OAB in postmenopausal women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel clinical trial, 147 participants were allocated randomly to 16 Hz EA, 2 Hz EA or MA groups in a 1:1:1 ratio. All participants received EA or MA twice a week for 6 weeks at CV3, CV4, GV20 and bilateral KI3 and SP6. The EA groups also received electrical stimulation at 2 or 16 Hz at CV3/CV4 and KI3/SP6. A total of 140 participants completed 6 weeks of treatment with 16 Hz EA (n = 48), 2 Hz EA (n = 46) or MA (n = 46) and were followed-up after 4 weeks. The primary outcome measurement was the change in the number of micturitions per 24 hours (averaged over 3 days) from baseline to week 6. Secondary outcome measures included daytime and nocturnal micturitions per 24 h, total number of urinary urgency and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) episodes over 3 days, overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) and King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) score.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The primary outcome did not significantly differ between groups (<i>p</i> = 0.160). Of all secondary outcomes, there was a significant difference only in total urinary urgency, which was reduced in 2 Hz EA versus MA groups (-9.9 ± 10.37 vs -4.3 ± 7.21, <i>p</i> = 0.012). Otherwise, there were no significant differences between groups. There were no serious adverse events reported during the treatment period. When symptoms were re-evaluated at week 10 (4 weeks post-treatment), most scores were similar to week 6 but there remained no significant differences between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There were no significant differences between 2 Hz EA, 16 Hz EA and MA for the treatment of OAB-related symptoms in postmenopausal women, except for a tentative finding that 2 Hz EA may reduce the number of urinary urgency episodes compared to MA (secondary outcome without correction for multiple testing).</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>KCT0003912 (Clinical Research Information Service).</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"316-329"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145585869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electroacupuncture promotes functional recovery and activates energy metabolism in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury.","authors":"Jian-Lan Wang, Lin An, Xiao-Hong Du, Ming Lu, Wei Qu, Shuang Zhang, Yu-Xuan Wu","doi":"10.1177/09645284251399240","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251399240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Electroacupuncture (EA) accelerates repair of peripheral nerve injury. The aim of this study was to explore how EA regulates energy metabolism by examining its effects on glucose transport and mitochondrial dynamic balance in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In experiment 1, expression of glucose transporter (GLUT)4 was measured in n = 16 rats at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days following EA to identify the optimal glucose uptake time. In experiment 2, n = 32 rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: Normal, Injury, EA and ES (electrical stimulation). Three days after sciatic nerve injury modeling, micro-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was performed to observe glucose uptake in the sciatic nerve and surrounding tissues. After 1 week, we measured nerve conduction velocity and expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), mitofusin (Mfn)1/2 and dynamin-related protein (Drp)1 in the sciatic nerve (by Western blotting) and observed pathological changes in the sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Protein expression levels of GLUT4, Mfn1/2 and Drp1 were significantly higher in the EA group, and histopathological changes were improved, compared with other groups. Glucose uptake by micro-PET/CT in the target area in the EA group was significantly higher than that in the other groups. Furthermore, nerve conduction velocity and NGF/BDNF expression was significantly higher in the EA group compared with the other three groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EA accelerated the repair and regeneration of the injured sciatic nerve, activated glucose transport and improved mitochondrial dynamic balance, in a rat model.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"354-364"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145647087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A systematic review of pre-operative and intra-operative acupuncture in total hip and knee arthroplasty.","authors":"Kira K Tanghe, Zodina A Beiene, Stephanie I Cheng, Elizabeth B Gausden","doi":"10.1177/09645284251400384","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251400384","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are common elective surgical procedures that are often associated with significant post-operative pain, commonly leading to opioid use. Acupuncture has been studied as a non-invasive approach to alleviate post-operative pain and reduce opioid consumption. Our aim was to review the literature to assess the efficacy of pre-operative and intra-operative acupuncture as an analgesic adjunct for arthroplasty patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple databases to identify studies that utilized acupuncture in primary THA and TKA patients from their inception to June 2023. Inclusion criteria included full-text availability and publication in the English language.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight studies were included in the final analysis, comprising seven randomized controlled trials and one prospective cohort study. Meta-analysis was not feasible due to the heterogeneity of study design and outcome measures. Acupuncture use led to a significant reduction in total intra-operative fentanyl and post-operative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) use in THA and TKA patients. Patients who received acupuncture reported fewer analgesic-related side effects. However, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) varied among studies, with no consistent trend observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The incorporation of pre- and intra-operative acupuncture into arthroplasty protocols may help reduce opioid usage and minimize analgesia-related side effects. It appears, based on the available literature, that acupuncture has the potential to improve pain management in arthroplasty patients. Although the number of studies remains limited, the cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation of acupuncture suggest that it could be an advantageous adjunct in the peri-operative setting. Further research is needed to establish best practices and guide healthcare professionals on the use of acupuncture in arthroplasty patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"307-315"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145647042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Manual acupuncture alleviates bladder dysfunction and ameliorates oxidative stress in a rat model of diabetic neurogenic bladder.","authors":"Yujun He, Rui Lin, Ningjing Qin, Yushan Fan, Furui Miao, Jingwen Huang, Hui Zhang","doi":"10.1177/09645284251381834","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251381834","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the effect of manual acupuncture (MA) in a rat model of diabetic neurogenic bladder (DNB) based on protein and mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in bladder tissue.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A DNB rat model was established via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an MA group (n = 10 per group). In the MA group, MA was applied after modeling. Body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and bladder wet weight were measured, and urodynamics and bladder histomorphology were performed to verify whether the DNB model had been successfully established. Protein and mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, NQO1 and GSH-Px in the bladder tissue were determined by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bladder wet weight, urodynamic parameters and bladder histomorphology in the MA group were significantly improved compared to the untreated DNB group; however, MA had no significant effect on body weight or blood glucose. In addition, protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and GSH-Px in the bladder tissues of rats in the MA group was significantly increased.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that MA improved bladder dysfunction and that this may be related to upregulation of mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and GSH-Px, which may reduce oxidative stress and protect bladder smooth muscle.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"344-353"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145436696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome among men with a sedentary lifestyle: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Shuai Gao, Yuanjie Sun, Lili Zhu, Shiyan Yan, Xinlu Wang, Xi Wang, Zhishun Liu","doi":"10.1177/09645284251379493","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251379493","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Acupuncture was shown to be efficacious for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in a prior randomized controlled trial (RCT). The purpose of this secondary analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the subgroup of CP/CPPS patients with a sedentary lifestyle and to compare outcomes between sedentary and non-sedentary participants in the group receiving acupuncture.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In the original RCT, 440 patients with moderate to severe CP/CPPS received 20 sessions of acupuncture or sham acupuncture (SA) over 8 weeks and were followed up for 24 weeks after the treatment was completed. The primary outcome was the proportion of sustained responders, defined as those with a reduction of at least six points in the National Institute of Health-chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI) total score at weeks 8, 20 and 32. In this secondary analysis, we compared n = 147 participants in the acupuncture group with a sedentary lifestyle group: (1) n = 148 participants with a sedentary lifestyle in the SA group ; and (2) n = 62 participants with a non-sedentary lifestyle in the acupuncture group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among those with a sedentary lifestyle, the proportion of sustained responders was 38.3% in the acupuncture group versus 20.1% in the SA group (odds ratio (OR) 2.52 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.45-4.10]; <i>P</i> = 0.001). However, among those receiving verum acupuncture, response rates were higher in non-sedentary compared with sedentary participants at 56.9% vs 38.3% (OR 1.32 [95% CI 1.19- 3.49]; <i>P</i> = 0.044).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Acupuncture appears to be an efficacious for the treatment of CP/CPPS patients with a sedentary lifestyle. However, compared with a non-sedentary population, sedentary patients are less likely to achieve a significant/sustained treatment response following acupuncture.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"247-255"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}