ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2017
Coarse needle surface potentiates analgesic effect elicited by acupuncture with twirling manipulation in rats with nociceptive pain.
Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 170 citations in OpenAlex.
- Physiological impact of nanoporous acupuncture needles: Laser Doppler perfusion imaging in healthy volunteers.PloS one · 2019Trial
- Therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for acute pain in the emergency department.Integrative medicine research · 2026Review
- Ameliorative Effect of Vitamin C Against Tramadol-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment in Juvenile Rat Via Attenuation of Oxidative Stress and Dysfunctional Synaptic Plasticity.Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology · 2025Article
- A robot arm-assisted acupuncture system with motion and force monitoring: establishment and validation.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2025Article
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture: a review.Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan · 2024Review
- Aromatic Plants as Potential Resources to Combat Osteoarthritis.Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening · 2024Review
- Research Trends on Acupuncture for Shoulder Pain Treatment Over the Past 15 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis.Journal of pain research · 2023Review
- Comparative study of effective antibiofilm activity of beneficial microbes-mediated zirconia nanoparticles.Bioprocess and biosystems engineering · 2022Article
- Pain Management and Rehabilitation for Central Sensitization in Temporomandibular Disorders: A Comprehensive Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Article
- Immediate Effect of Dry Needling on the Viscoelastic Properties of a Trigger Point on the Infraspinatus Muscle Measured with MyotonPRO.Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2022Article
- Needling Interventions for Sciatica: Choosing Methods Based on Neuropathic Pain Mechanisms-A Scoping Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Effects of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture Compared with Sham Acupuncture on the Explosive Force Production by the Forearm Muscles in Female: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2021Article
- Electroacupuncture-Induced Muscular Inflammatory Pain Relief Was Associated With Activation of Low-Threshold Mechanoreceptor Neurons and Inhibition of Wide Dynamic Range Neurons in Spinal Dorsal Horn.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2021Article
- Augmented Mechanical Forces of the Surface-Modified Nanoporous Acupuncture Needles Elicit Enhanced Analgesic Effects.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2019Article
- Traditional Acupuncture Meets Modern Nanotechnology: Opportunities and Perspectives.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2019Review
- Nerve Stimulation: Immunomodulation and Control of Inflammation.Trends in molecular medicine · 2017Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBiomechanical phenomenon called "needle grasp" through the winding of connective tissue has been proposed as an action mechanism of acupuncture manipulation. The aim of the present study is to verify whether the needle grasp force affects the pain-relieving activity of acupuncture in the tail-flick latency (TFL) and the rat paw formalin tests.
methodsIn order to make different roughness on the acupuncture needle surface, the needles with 0.2 mm-diameter were scratched using silicon carbide sandpapers with the grit numbers of 600 (mild coarse) and 200 (extra coarse). The surface roughness and rotation-induced torque of the scratched needles were then measured by atomic force microscope and Acusensor®, respectively. Rat abdominal wall tissues including insertion site of acupuncture needle were excised after 5 unidirectional rotations of the needles having various degrees of roughness, and the morphological changes of connective tissues were analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) staining. Finally, the effects of coarse needle surface on anti-nociception induced by twirling manipulation were tested in rat TFL and formalin test.
resultsIt was observed that the rougher the needle surface, the stronger the needle grasp force and thickness of subcutaneous connective tissue while rotating. TFL increased in proportion to surface roughness of the ground needles 10 min after acupuncture into the Zusanli acupoint (ST36) on rat's legs. In the rat formalin test, the rougher needle also significantly exerted the larger analgesic effect during both early and late phases compared to non-ground normal needle.
conclusionSurface roughness of the acupuncture needle enhanced an anti-nociceptive activity of acupuncture therapy in rats, which partially supports the mechanical signaling theory through connective tissues in acupuncture manipulation.
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