EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON CONNECTIVE TISSUE USING ULTRASOUND ELASTOGRAPHY

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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.