DOES REAL ACUPUNCTURE PRODUCE THE SAME EFFECT AS PLACEBO ACUPUNCTURE ON SENSORY PERCEPTION? A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL

摘要

Background: Acupuncture treatment has become increasingly popular in the Western due to its therapeutic effects and low cost. However, some studies suggest that both real and sham acupuncture have effects.Objectives: Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of real and placebo acupuncture in cutaneous and deep sensitivity threshold.Methods: Three different types of placebo acupunctures were compared with real acupuncture, four groups at the St25 point (abdominal) and four at the B152 point (lumbar region), totaling eight groups. 185 subjects were recruited and randomized, ratings of cutaneous sensitivity threshold (von Frey filaments) and pressure pain threshold (algometer) occurred before and after the application.Results: The cutaneous sensitivity threshold showed no significant difference in the intragroup analysis and also compared between groups. The pressure pain threshold showed a significant decrease in values in the Real group B152 (p = 0.044) and insertion and removal B152 (p = 0.037) for intragroup analysis and comparison between groups, there was a significant reduction in Real groups St25 and insertion and withdrawal in B152 point compared to Park Sham B152 and Real B152, respectively (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Cutaneous sensitivity threshold did not change after applying acupuncture or placebo, but these techniques influence the pressure pain threshold.