Imaging Metabolic and Perfusion Changes in Acupuncture Therapy for Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS), Chronic Low-back Pain (cLBP)

In brief

This study will evaluate the clinical and biological effects of acupuncture for chronic low back pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). In this randomized, participant- and assessor-blinded clinical trial, 64 adults with chronic low back pain due to MPS will be assigned to receive either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture for eight weeks. Participants will undergo total-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (TB-PET/CT) imaging and complete standardized pain and functional questionnaires at baseline and after treatment. The study will evaluate whether acupuncture improves pain and function compared with sham treatment and whether TB-PET/CT imaging can detect changes in myofascial tissue metabolism and perfusion that correspond with clinical outcomes.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07494162

Run by

University of California, Davis

People needed

64

Starts

2026-05-18

Expected to finish

2030-04-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Ability to understand the purposes and risks of the trial and willingness to sign an informed consent form
• Willingness and ability to comply with all protocol required procedures
• Willingness to be randomized to receive either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture
• Current self-report of chronic low back pain (cLBP) which has persisted for the past 3 months AND has resulted in pain on > 50% of days in the past 6 months
• At least one palpable nodule or taut band in paraspinal, quadratus lumborum, or gluteal muscles
• Reproduction of the patient's dominant pain with palpation of a muscle nodule or taut band
• Predominantly paramedian pain (may be uni-lateral or bi-lateral)
• Willing and able to lay motionless in a supine position at least twice, preferably thrice: 70-minute TB-PET/CT scan
• Willing and able to fast for at least 6 hours before and for the duration of the TB-PET/CT scan
• Willing to avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours before the TB-PET/CT scan visit
• Willingness to practice effective contraception during the study.

You may not qualify if…

• No Primary Care Physician
• History of spine infection (discitis or osteomyelitis) or spine tumor
• History of ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, psoriatic arthritis, or lupus
• Confounding conditions that are known to be responsible for inducing pain
• Implants at or in the region of the sites of interest
• Diagnosis of any vertebral fracture in the last 6 months
• Cauda equina syndrome or lumbar radiculopathy with functional motor deficit (strength<4/5 on manual motor testing)
• Spinal implants (including fixation hardware, spinal cord stimulator, intra-thecal pumps, that are present in the region of the sites of interest)
• Predominantly central pain
• Pain below the knee
• Positive straight leg raise test
• Symptomatic hip arthritis
• Uncontrolled claustrophobia
• Pregnant or lactating participants
• Body weight more than 225 kg (496 pounds) due to the weight limitation of the scanner bed
• Prisoners
• Inability to speak, read, and write in the English language
• Concurrent or prior enrollment in a separate research study involving a PET scan performed within the last 12 months for research purposes only.
• That is, PET scans are not performed as part of a patient's treatment plan (e.g. standard of care, therapeutic purposes, or clinical care) and the research study did not intend to provide therapeutic benefit to the patient.
• Any other criteria, which would make the participant unsuitable to participate in this study as determined by the Principal Investigator

Where it is running

• UC Davis EXPLORER Molecular Imaging Center — Sacramento, California, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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