Ear Acupuncture Reducing Pain and Improving Balance

The Effects of a Single Session of Ear Acupuncture in Pain Sensation and Body Balance

Status

UNKNOWN

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01995279

Acronym

EARPIB

Enrollment

Registered

2013-11-26

Start date

2013-11-30

Completion date

2014-03-31

Last updated

2013-11-26

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

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain

Keywords

low back pain, French Auriculotherapy, postural control, balance, posture

Brief summary

The aim of the present project is to examine the effects of single session of French ear acupuncture on pain sensation and on postural control in individuals with chronic low back pain. We hypothesize that: I) The application of French ear acupuncture at specific points to reduce low back pain would decrease pain intensity in patients with chronic low back pain. II) The pain reduction would be greater for those individuals with low back pain who receive application of French ear acupuncture at specific points to reduce low back pain compared with patients who receive placebo treatment. III) The application of French ear acupuncture at specific points to reduce back pain will have positive effect on the performance of the postural control system.

Interventions

DEVICEFrench ear acupuncture

Single session (20 minutes) of French ear acupuncture at specific location used to reduce low back pain.

OTHERSham Ultrasound

Ultrasound turned off.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 50 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Complaints of back pain lasting more than 12 weeks * Pain referred larger than 4 according to the 11-points pain scale

Exclusion criteria

* No other musculoskeletal injury, * Individuals diagnosed with structural damage * Individuals who performed a spine surgery * Individuals who have sensory abnormalities or dizziness. * Individuals may not be in physical therapy for reducing low back pain. * Painkillers or anti-inflammatories use 24 hours before the experimental procedure.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
11-point Short Pain Scale (SPS-11)	20 minute	Treatment: single session of French ear acupuncture. Placebo: 20 minute application of sham ultrasound

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Center of pressure sway area	20 minute	Treatment: single session of French ear acupuncture. Placebo: 20 minute application of sham ultrasound

Countries

Brazil

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026