Investigation of the effects of needling the acupuncture point Houxi (SI 3) on pressure pain threshold, needling sensation and needling pain in healthy participants

Wu, Xiaoqin

Investigation of the effects of needling the acupuncture point Houxi (SI 3) on pressure pain threshold, needling sensation and needling pain in healthy participants

Wu, Xiaoqin

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2021

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Wu, Xiaoqin
dc.date.accessioned	2021-10-19T22:56:21Z
dc.date.available	2021-10-19T22:56:21Z
dc.date.issued	2021
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151150
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: During the past decades, there has been a surge in prescribing opioids for pain related conditions, the “opioid epidemic”. It is critical for researchers and clinicians to explore other non-pharmacological approaches to manage pain instead of relying on opioid analgesics. Acupuncture could be an effective tool to modulate pain. Since 1999, studies on the effect of acupuncture on pressure pain threshold (PPT), at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), have been conducted. The effects of the acupuncture to the acupoint LI 4 (𝘏𝘦𝘨𝘶) on PPT, the strength and quality of needling sensation (𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪) and the intensity of needling pain have been investigated by researchers from the UTS acupuncture group. However, the effects of another acupoint, Small Intestine 3 (SI 3 - 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘹𝘪) a commonly used acupoint for the treatment of various pain-related conditions has not been explored for its effect on PPT and 𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪. 𝗔𝗶𝗺: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of needling the acupoint SI 3 in healthy people on: 1. Regional PPT at ten sites (SI 11ᴿ, SI 11ᴸ, GV 4, GV 14, HT 7ᴿ, HT 7ᴸ, BL 60ᴿ, BL 60ᴸ, GB 21ᴿ, GB 21ᴸ) following three different interventions - SI3m⁺, SI3m⁻ and SL; 2. The strength and quality of needling sensation (𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪) reported by subjects; and 3. The intensity of pain associated with the intervention. 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀: Prior to commencing the study a systematic review was undertaken on the clinical use of acupoint SI 3 and PPT in acupuncture clinical studies. Following the reviews, this prospective study was designed as a randomised, double-blind, three-arm, and cross-over experimental study to investigate the effects of needling SI 3 on regional PPT, 𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪 and needling pain. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: For SI3m⁺ and SI3m⁻ interventions, the post intervention mean % PPT scores were significantly elevated compared with SL (p < 0.001). SI3m⁺ statistically significantly elevated PPT% comparing to SI3m⁻ (p < 0.001). The mean needle sensation and pain scores were similar for the two needling interventions, but both increased when comparing to SL. The subjects’ anxiety and tension levels were not significantly different across the interventions. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Both intervention and site of needling were found to be important contributors to the effects on regional PPT in healthy participants. This study has provided findings that support the belief that obtaining 𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪 during acupuncture is necessary for eliciting a pain modulating effect. Needling pain had no correlation with PPT.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/151150/2/02whole.pdf
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/ppc
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Investigation of the effects of needling the acupuncture point Houxi (SI 3) on pressure pain threshold, needling sensation and needling pain in healthy participants	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: During the past decades, there has been a surge in prescribing opioids for pain related conditions, the “opioid epidemic”. It is critical for researchers and clinicians to explore other non-pharmacological approaches to manage pain instead of relying on opioid analgesics. Acupuncture could be an effective tool to modulate pain. Since 1999, studies on the effect of acupuncture on pressure pain threshold (PPT), at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), have been conducted. The effects of the acupuncture to the acupoint LI 4 (𝘏𝘦𝘨𝘶) on PPT, the strength and quality of needling sensation (𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪) and the intensity of needling pain have been investigated by researchers from the UTS acupuncture group. However, the effects of another acupoint, Small Intestine 3 (SI 3 - 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘹𝘪) a commonly used acupoint for the treatment of various pain-related conditions has not been explored for its effect on PPT and 𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪. 𝗔𝗶𝗺: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of needling the acupoint SI 3 in healthy people on: 1. Regional PPT at ten sites (SI 11ᴿ, SI 11ᴸ, GV 4, GV 14, HT 7ᴿ, HT 7ᴸ, BL 60ᴿ, BL 60ᴸ, GB 21ᴿ, GB 21ᴸ) following three different interventions - SI3m⁺, SI3m⁻ and SL; 2. The strength and quality of needling sensation (𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪) reported by subjects; and 3. The intensity of pain associated with the intervention. 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀: Prior to commencing the study a systematic review was undertaken on the clinical use of acupoint SI 3 and PPT in acupuncture clinical studies. Following the reviews, this prospective study was designed as a randomised, double-blind, three-arm, and cross-over experimental study to investigate the effects of needling SI 3 on regional PPT, 𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪 and needling pain. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: For SI3m⁺ and SI3m⁻ interventions, the post intervention mean % PPT scores were significantly elevated compared with SL (p < 0.001). SI3m⁺ statistically significantly elevated PPT% comparing to SI3m⁻ (p < 0.001). The mean needle sensation and pain scores were similar for the two needling interventions, but both increased when comparing to SL. The subjects’ anxiety and tension levels were not significantly different across the interventions. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Both intervention and site of needling were found to be important contributors to the effects on regional PPT in healthy participants. This study has provided findings that support the belief that obtaining 𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘪 during acupuncture is necessary for eliciting a pain modulating effect. Needling pain had no correlation with PPT.

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