Abstract
BackgroundPrecompetition nervous syndrome comprises an excessive nervous and anxiety response to the high-pressure environment preceding a sporting competition. The use of acupuncture as a treatment option for anxiety, and wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) specifically in this instance, has been identified as a growing trend within the Western world. In our previous study, we have confirmed the efficacy of WAA for pre-examination anxiety. In this paper, we present a randomized controlled single-blind trial evaluating the use of WAA for precompetition nervous syndrome, comparing it with the intervention of sham acupuncture.Methods/DesignThe study was designed as a randomized controlled single-blind trial to evaluate the effects of WAA for precompetition anxiety. The trial will be conducted in annual track and field events of Shanghai University of Sport. A total of 100 participants who meet inclusion criteria are randomly assigned by computerized randomization to receive WAA therapy or sham acupuncture. The group allocations and interventions are concealed to participants and statisticians. The Competition State Anxiety Scale (CSAI-2) is used as the primary outcome measure, while heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory frequency, tension syndrome curative effect evaluation and participants’ feeling of acupuncture questionnaire are applied as secondary outcome measures.DiscussionThe results of this trial will confirm whether WAA is effective to treat precompetition anxiety in annual track and field events.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-13003931; registration date: 22 October 2013).
Highlights
Precompetition nervous syndrome comprises an excessive nervous and anxiety response to the high-pressure environment preceding a sporting competition
The results of this trial will confirm whether Wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) is effective to treat precompetition anxiety in annual track and field events
Traditional acupuncture treatments emphasize the “needling sensation”, which will give an unpleasant feeling to some players
Summary
The use of the common filiform needle in acupuncture intervention is difficult to incorporate into a blind trial because of the special intervention procedure. An acupuncture trial design without requesting whether qi is obtained by the participants could not reflect the correct and real therapeutic effect of acupuncture [23]. It is innovative that we could design a randomized controlled single-blind trial with a non-penetrating sham WAA group. The subjects were asked to wear an eye mask Under this condition, they did not know which intervention they would be given and could not distinguish therapuetic intervention in the subsequent treatment. We believe that this method can serve as an effective placebo intervention and that this study will be able to provide high-quality evidence for the efficacy of WAA for precompetition nervous syndrome.
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