EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLING ON CONNECTIVE TISSUE VIA ULTRASOUND ELASTOGRAPHY

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。这项研究将记录插入针灸针的效果，类似于针灸治疗过程中发生的情况。针灸疗法在中国已有2000多年的历史，在美国也越来越流行，用于治疗关节炎、背痛、过敏、精力不足和失眠等多种疾病。尽管针灸被广泛使用，但我们不知道针灸针对身体产生作用的机制。在针灸治疗过程中，非常细的针被插入到针的一半深度，进入身体表面的穴位，称为穴位。然后将针旋转1到2秒，直到患者有一种“得气”的感觉。德气的感觉最好描述为轻微的疼痛或痉挛，持续几秒钟，然后消失。当病人有这种感觉时，针灸师也同时感觉到针被皮肤下的组织“抓住”了。这项研究的目的是对这一迄今尚未以科学方式研究过的现象进行精确测量。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The study will record the effect of inserting acupuncture needles, similar to what happens during an acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture treatments have been used in China for over 2000 years and are becoming more and more popular in the United States for the treatment of many conditions such as arthritis, back pain, allergies, low energy and insomnia. Despite the widespread use of acupuncture, we do not know the mechanism by which acupuncture needles exert their effect on the body. During acupuncture treatments, very thin needles are inserted to a depth half way up the needle, into points on the surface of the body known as acupuncture points. The needles are then rotated for 1 to 2 seconds until the patient experiences a sensation called "de qi" (pronounced "day chee"). The de qi sensation is best described as a slight ache or cramp that lasts for a few seconds and then goes away. When the patient feels this sensation, the acupuncturist at the same time feels that the needle is being "gripped" by the tissues underneath the skin. The purpose of the study is to make exact measurements of this phenomenon that so far has not been studied in a scientific manner.