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Acupuncture Imagery for Low Back Pain

N/A
Waitlist Available
Research Sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be between 18 and 65 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 6 weeks

Summary

This trialwill study the effects of "video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment" on chronic low back pain. 8 sessions over 6 wks, with primary outcome being change in pain severity.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults aged 18-60 with chronic low back pain lasting more than 6 months, rated at least 4/10 in intensity. Participants must have had their condition evaluated by a healthcare provider and be able to understand English well. Excluded are those with specific causes of back pain like cancer or fractures, intent to undergo surgery soon, unresolved legal claims related to back pain, active substance abuse within the last two years, prior complicated back issues including surgery, contraindications for acupuncture such as pregnancy or coagulation disorders.
What is being tested?
The study tests 'video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment' (VGAIT) against sham VGAIT for relieving chronic low back pain. Over six weeks, participants will attend eight sessions which include six treatments. The main goal is to see if there's a change in the severity of low back pain after each session using VGAIT compared to fake treatments.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this trial involves non-invasive video-guided imagery rather than actual acupuncture procedures, significant side effects are not anticipated. However, some individuals might experience discomfort from sitting during sessions or psychological distress if they have underlying conditions that make participation difficult.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~6 weeks
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 6 weeks for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Changes in low back pain (LBP) severity score
Secondary study objectives
Changes in back-pain specific disability score
Changes in dysfunction, as measured by Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement System (PROMIS) Global Health score
Changes in dysfunction, as measured by Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement System-29 (PROMIS-29) score
+3 more

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Group I: Verum VGAIT GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants in this group will receive verum (real) acupuncture and verum video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT).
Group II: Sham VGAIT GroupPlacebo Group1 Intervention
Participants in this group will receive sham acupuncture and sham VGAIT.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Massachusetts General HospitalLead Sponsor
3,023 Previous Clinical Trials
13,317,869 Total Patients Enrolled
30 Trials studying Chronic Pain
4,933 Patients Enrolled for Chronic Pain
~12 spots leftby Dec 2025
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