Characterization of Painful and Non-painful Acupuncture Needle Sensations During Bidirectional Rotation of a Single Needle Inserted 15–25 mm at Large Intestine 10

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: Non-painful needle sensations elicit different hemodynamic responses compared to painful needle sensations which may indicate positive therapeutic benefits. Yet there is evidence regarding the perception of painful and non-painful sensations during acupuncture. This study measured painful and non-painful sensations during and after the insertion of a single acupuncture needle. Design: This study used a repeated measures, crossover design. Setting: This experiment was conducted in the physiology laboratory at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. Subjects: Fifteen healthy participants were recruited from university staff and students. Intervention: During each session, a single acupuncture needle was inserted at LI10 for 15 minutes, and needle sensations were recorded at 5-minute intervals for a total of 30 minutes. During the first visit, an acupuncture needle was inserted to a depth of 15–25 mm followed by bidirectional rotation (Experimental condition). During the second visit, an acup...