Effects of Trigger Point Acupuncture on Pain Sensitivity in Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain

Immediate Effects of Trigger Point Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture on Pressure Pain Thresholds in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Crossover Controlled Trial - A Study on Stimulation Methods for Trigger Points in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

JPRN

Registry ID

JPRN-UMIN000062044

Enrollment

Registered

2026-06-24

Start date

2024-07-11

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-09-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain

Interventions

Two disposable stainless-steel acupuncture needles will be inserted into trigger points within the lumbar multifidus muscle identified using ultrasonography and retained in situ for 10 minutes. Two di

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Adults aged 18~65 years. Students or employees of the university. Individuals with chronic low back pain lasting for at least 3 months. No history of lumbar spine surgery. No symptoms suggestive of lower extremity radiculopathy. Reproduction of their usual low back pain upon manual compression of the lumbar multifidus muscle, including the area approximately 2 cm lateral to the midline at the L4,5 vertebral level. Ability to reliably report symptom reproduction during acupuncture stimulation. Previous experience with acupuncture treatment. Provision of written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Individuals with severe fear of acupuncture treatment. Individuals who have previously experienced all acupuncture stimulation as strongly unpleasant or painful sensations. Pregnant women or individuals who may be pregnant. Individuals with bleeding disorders or those receiving anticoagulant therapy. Individuals with severe orthopedic, neurological, or psychiatric disorders. Individuals deemed unsuitable for study participation by the principal investigator.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) Assessment time points:Baseline, immediately after intervention	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Subjective pain intensity assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Assessment time points:Baseline, immediately after intervention	—

Countries

Japan

Contacts

Public Contactyoji kitagawa

Kansai University of Health Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences

kitagawa@kansai.ac.jp0724538251

Outcome results

None listed

Source: JPRN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Sep 19, 2026