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Investigation of the Effect of Acupuncture Needling on Connective Tissue Using Ultrasound Elastography
This study is ongoing, but not recruiting participants.
First Received: June 1, 2000   Last Updated: June 23, 2005   History of Changes
Sponsored by: National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Information provided by: National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00005770
  Purpose

During acupuncture treatment, acupuncture needles are inserted and manipulated until a characteristic local tissue reaction termed "de qi" is observed. De qi can be perceived by the acupuncturist in the form of "needle grasp", a mechanical gripping of the needle by the tissue. De qi is considered essential to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. Therefore, the investigator proposes that understanding this local tissue reaction will lead to an understanding of how the therapeutic effect of acupuncture therapy arises. Specifically, it is hypothesized that needle manipulation causes winding of collagen and elastic fibers around the needle. This action induces tension in the collagen network surrounding the needling site and results in a mechanical signal that is transduced into local cells. The objective of the current work is to use ultrasound elastography, a recently developed ultrasound imaging technique, to visualize and quantify changes in the elastic properties of skin and subcutaneous tissue in 12 healthy human volunteers as a result of acupuncture needle manipulation.


Condition Intervention
Healthy
Device: Acupuncture

MedlinePlus related topics: Acupuncture Ultrasound
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Observational
Study Design: Natural History, Cross-Sectional
  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 55 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: - Healthy

  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00005770

Locations
United States, Vermont
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont, United States, 05401
Sponsors and Collaborators
  More Information

No publications provided

Study ID Numbers: NCRR-M01RR00109-0745, M01RR00109
Study First Received: June 1, 2000
Last Updated: June 23, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00005770     History of Changes
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Center for Research Resources (NCRR):
elastic property of skin

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Healthy

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 07, 2009