NCT03036657

Local Effects of Acupuncture and Nerve Conduction Studies

Local Effects of Acupuncture on the Median and Ulnar Nerves in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Thus study aims to characterize the local, nerve-specific effects of acupuncture on the median and ulnar nerves in the forearm, using nerve conduction studies and quantitative sensory testing. All participant will have carpal tunnel syndrome and the affected median nerve will be compared to the healthy ulnar nerve. Additionally, we aim to compare the local, nerve-specific effect of manual acupuncture to that of low-frequency electroacupuncture and of high-frequency electroacupuncture.

Detailed description

The purpose of this study is to measure the local effects of acupuncture on the median and ulnar nerves in patients with median neuropathy at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome), using nerve conduction studies (NCS) and quantitative sensory testing (QST) as outcomes. Our secondary aim is to compare acupuncture's effect on the functioning of a diseased nerve (median nerve in CTS) to its effect on a healthy nerve (ulnar). Additionally, we aim to compare the local, nerve-specific effect of manual acupuncture to that of low-frequency electroacupuncture and of high-frequency electroacupuncture. In a mechanistic study of acupuncture, 60 subjects with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) will be randomized to manual acupuncture (MA), low-frequency electroacupuncture (LF-EA) and high-frequency electroacupuncture (HF-EA) groups. Baseline measurements will consist of QST (vibration and cold detection thresholds), as well as NCS of both median and ulnar nerves. Then, each group will undergo acupuncture to the median nerve (Pericardium channel points) and to the ulnar nerve (Heart channel points), one week apart, order counterbalanced, followed by post-acupuncture NCS and QST measurements in both nerves' territories.

Conditions

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	MAC acupuncture needles	Sterile single-use MAC acupuncture needles (0.22 x 25 mm, TianJin Haing Lim Sou Won Medical Equipment Co, Ltd, South Korea. Used for Manual Acupuncture Used for: Manual Acupuncture to PC3, PC5 or HT3, HT4 for 20 min
DEVICE	Electrostimulator 6c.Pro, Pantheon Research, Venice, CA	Electrostimulator used for delivery or Low-Frequency or High-Frequency Electroacupuncture Used for Interventions: Low-frequency Continuous Electroacupuncture to PC3, PC5 or HT3, HT4 for 20 min AND High-frequency Continuous Electroacupuncture to PC3, PC5 or HT3, HT4 for 20 min

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-10-01
• Primary completion: 2021-05-01
• Completion: 2021-12-01
• First posted: 2017-01-30
• Last updated: 2023-10-10
• Results posted: 2023-10-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States