Abstract Details

Title Nerve-Specific Local and Systemic Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture in Healthy Adults, Measured by Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST)

Topic Pain

Presentation(s) P2 - Poster Session 2 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 7-060

Objective To assess whether acupuncture delivered over two peripheral nerves in the leg produces greater analgesia, compared to acupuncture over a single leg nerve. Our secondary goal is to compare the local vs systemic analgesic effects of acupuncture.

Background

Neuropathic pain studies have shown that acupuncture-induced analgesia is achieved when treatment involves acupoints in close association with large peripheral nerves. Further research is needed to determine whether these analgesic effects are local or systemic and assess for an acupuncture dose response.

Design/Methods 28 healthy volunteers aged 18-45 were randomized to electroacupuncture over the Deep Peroneal (DP) nerve or over the Deep Peroneal and Posterior Tibial nerves (DPTN). Baseline and post-acupuncture quantitative sensory testing (QST) were obtained both locally at the proximal calf and great toe and systemically at the hand. Results were analyzed using factorial repeated measures analysis of variance, on each of the QST variables – cold detection threshold (CDT), vibration detection threshold (VDT), heat pain threshold (HP0.5) and heat pain 5 on the visual analog scale (HP5.0). Location (leg/arm) and Time (pre/post-acupuncture) were within-subject factors. Intervention (DP/DPTN) was between-subject factor.

Results

CDT was increased locally in the calf (p <0.001) and systemically in the hand (p <0.001). VDT was increased locally in the toe (p <0.001), but not in the hand. HP0.5 was increased locally in the calf (p <0.001) and systemically in the hand (p <0.001). HP5.0 was increased in the calf (p=0.002) and in the hand (p <0.001), with the systemic effect being significantly greater than the local (p=0.004). In all of the above modalities there was no difference between the low-dose (DP) and high-dose (DPTN) acupuncture groups.

Conclusions

Acupuncture causes comparable local and systemic analgesic effects in cold detection and heat pain perception and only local effects in vibration perception. There is no clear acupuncture dose response to these effects.

Authors/Disclosures
Alexandra Dimitrova, MD (OHSU) PRESENTER	Dr. Dimitrova has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Barry S. Oken, MD, PhD, FAAN (Oregon Health & Science Univ.)	Dr. Oken has nothing to disclose.

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