Auricular Acupressure and Limb Massage for Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury

Psychosocial/other
Pain
Online since 26 April 2025, updated today

About this trial

This trial is enrolling 90 participants with subacute spinal cord injury (less than 1 year post injury) to test the effect of stimulating specific points on the ear (auricular acupressure) and massage to specific areas on the arms and legs (acupoint massage) on pain. If included, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either auricular acupressure or standard care along with acupoint massage therapy. Final testing of pain will be performed after 3 weeks.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
≥ 18 years
Injury level
C1 - S5
  • Severity (AIS)?
  • AIS-B
    AIS-C
    AIS-D
    Time since injury
    ≤ 12 months
  • Injury type
  • Traumatic

    Non-traumatic

    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C1-S5
    Additionally, participants must
    NOT have previously undergone nerve block surgery

    What’s involved

    Type

    Psychosocial/other

    Details

    - Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard care alongside acupressure therapy or standard care only. - Acupressure therapy consists of auricular acupressure, a technique that stimulates specific points on the outer ear, and peripheral limb acupoint massage, a technique that applies pressure to specific acupoints on the arms and legs. - Acupressure therapy will be administered 3 times daily, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks. - Final testing of pain will be performed after 3 weeks.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Pain

    Additional benefits

    Arm/hand function

    Bladder health/function

    Bowel health

    General health

    Mental health and psychosocial factors

    Standing/walking/mobility

    Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more

    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting soon
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Apr 2025
    • Organisation
    • National Taiwan University Hospital
    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting soon
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Apr 2025
    • Organisation
    • National Taiwan University Hospital

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more