NCT02840916

Laser Acupuncture for Postpartum Weight Retention

Laser Acupuncture Therapy in Patients With Postpartum Weight Retention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 66 (actual)
• Sponsor: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 20 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Objective: To determine the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on postpartum weight retention. Methods: 66 subjects after delivery with postpartum weight retention will be randomly divided into laser acupuncture and control group. A single-blind clinical trial will be conducted and the subjects will be treated with verum or sham laser acupuncture 5 sessions per week. After about 3 weeks of treatment, the differences of the subjects' body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference will be analyzed with ANOVA between laser acupuncture and control group.

Detailed description

Objective: Gestational weight gain and weight retention at 1 year after delivery are associated with long-term obesity. The investigators aimed to investigate the effect of laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) on postpartum weight control. Methods: The investigators randomly assigned 66 subjects with postpartum weight retention to a laser acupuncture group and control group. The subjects were treated at acupoints including the Stomach and Hunger points of the ear, ST25 (Tianshu), ST28 (Shuidao), ST40 (Fenglong), SP15 (Daheng), CV9 (Shuifen), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao) by using verum or sham laser acupuncture over 5 sessions per week. After 12 treatment sessions, the differences in the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), and waist-to-buttocks ratio (WBR) of the patients were analyzed, and compared between the laser acupuncture and control groups via analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and stepwise regression tests.

Conditions

• Postpartum Weight Retention

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	laser acupuncture	Subjects were treated at acupoints including the Stomach and Hunger points of the ear, ST25, ST28, ST40, SP15, CV9, and SP6 by using laser acupuncture (GaAlAs laser, maximal power, 150 milliwatt; wavelength, 810 nm; area of probe, 0.03 cm2; power density, 5 W/cm2; pulsed wave; 5.625 J/ cm2) over 5 sessions per week, 12 treatment sessions in total.
PROCEDURE	sham laser acupuncture	Subjects underwent sham laser acupuncture treatment without any laser output. The acupuncture points, application duration, and total number of treatments were similar to those in verum laser acupuncture group.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-01-01
• Primary completion: 2015-12-01
• Completion: 2015-12-01
• First posted: 2016-07-21
• Last updated: 2017-01-16
• Results posted: 2017-01-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan