Spinal Cord Injury
Conditions
Keywords
acupressure, neuropathic pain, quality of life, Activities of daily living
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial included 90 patients with spinal cord injury, divided into an experimental group and a control group (45 each). The experimental group received auricular acupressure alongside rehabilitation therapy, while the control group received body acupoint massage alongside rehabilitation therapy. The intervention targeted specific auricular and body acupoints, performed three times daily, five days a week, for three weeks.
Detailed description
This study is a randomized controlled trial conducted in the rehabilitation ward of National Taiwan University Hospital, using a convenience sampling method. A total of 90 spinal cord injury patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=45) or the control group (n=45). The experimental group will receive auricular acupressure in addition to rehabilitation therapy. The selected auricular acupoints include Shenmen (TF4), Subcortex (AT1), Liver (CO12), and Sympathetic (AH6a). The control group will receive body acupoint massage in addition to rehabilitation therapy. The selected body acupoints include Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zusanli (ST36). Both groups will receive acupoint massage three times daily, with each acupoint being massaged for three minutes. The applied pressure will be adjusted to induce sensations of soreness, numbness, fullness, or mild pain. The intervention will be conducted five days per week for a total of three weeks.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALauricular acupressure
auricular acupressure was performed three times daily, with each acupoint massaged for three minutes at an optimal pressure level that induced sensations of soreness, numbness, distension, or mild pain. This was conducted five days a week for three weeks, in addition to regular rehabilitation therapy provided five days per week.The selected auricular acupoints include Shenmen (TF4), Subcortex (AT1), Liver (CO12), and Sympathetic (AH6a).
BEHAVIORALbody acupoint massage
The control group will receive acupoint massage three times daily, with each acupoint being massaged for three minutes. The applied pressure will be adjusted to induce sensations of soreness, numbness, fullness, or mild pain. The intervention will be conducted five days per week for a total of three weeks. The selected body acupoints include Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zusanli (ST36).
Sponsors
National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences
National Taiwan University Hospital
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Over 18 years old. 2. Spinal cord injury due to traumatic or non-traumatic reasons. 3. Within one year after spinal cord injury. 4. Spinal cord injuries are classified into ASIA grades B to D. 5. DN4 scale ≥ 4 points and PainDETECT scale ≥ 19 points. 6. Able to communicate in Mandarin and Taiwanese or able to read and write Chinese.
Exclusion criteria
1. The auricle and surrounding skin are injured, infected or susceptible. 2. Nerve block surgery has been performed previously.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| PainDetect Pain Questionnaire | Before the intervention and on the 5th, 12th, and 19th days of the intervention. |
| Douleur Neuropathique 4 questions(DN4) | Before the intervention and on the 5th, 12th, and 19th days of the intervention. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Barthel Index | Before the intervention and on the 5th, 12th, and 19th days of the intervention. |
| WHOQOL-BREF | Before the intervention and on the 5th, 12th, and 19th days of the intervention. |
Contacts
Primary ContactWeng YUE CI
Outcome results
None listed