Anatomically-Guided Electroacupuncture Combined With Cupping for Shoulder Pain

Summary

This study compares two acupuncture-based treatments for shoulder pain. Adults with shoulder pain will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive electroacupuncture at points chosen based on the anatomy of the painful muscle, combined with moving cupping therapy. The other group will receive electroacupuncture using a standard set of traditional acupuncture points. Both groups will receive daily treatment for 5 days. The main question is whether the combined treatment reduces pain and improves shoulder function more than standard electroacupuncture, measured using a shoulder pain and disability questionnaire completed before treatment and after each session.

Conditions

• Shoulder Pain

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Anatomically-guided electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture using filiform needles inserted at ashi points (tender points) selected according to the anatomical location of the affected shoulder muscle and the movement provoking pain (e.g., SI9, SI11, TE14, LI15, GB21, BL17). Needles were stimulated electrically at 60-100 Hz and retained for 20 minutes, once daily for 5 consecutive days.

PROCEDURE

Moving cupping therapy

Moving cupping therapy applied over the upper back and shoulder region. Paraffin oil was applied to the skin, and a plastic cup (3-5 cm diameter) was moved along both sides of the thoracic spine, passing over the supraspinous and infraspinous fossae, using intermittent lifting to avoid localized bruising. Total duration 10-15 minutes per session, performed every other day for 3 sessions.

PROCEDURE

Classical electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture using filiform needles inserted at a standard set of classical acupuncture points following the protocol of the Vietnam Ministry of Health, including local points SI15, SI14, BL11, GB21, TE14, LI15, LI14, SI9, and SI11, plus distal points LI11, LI10, TE5, and LI4. Needles were stimulated electrically at 60-100 Hz, retained for 20 minutes, once daily for 5 consecutive days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Thong Nhat Hospital

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hoang Tran, MD, MSc · University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

• Dinh- Thanh Le, Assoc Prof, MD, PhD · Thong Nhat Hospital

• Ly-Na T Vu, MD, MSc · University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-12-22

Primary Completion

2026-03-31

Completion

2026-03-31

Countries

• Vietnam

Study Locations