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Auricular Point Acupressure for Pain
Sponsor: Dan Song
Summary
The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn whether auricular point acupressure (APA) can help reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults age 50 and older who are living with HIV. The study will also examine whether APA is feasible, acceptable, and safe for this population. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does APA reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain and improve sleep and quality of life? Is APA feasible, acceptable, and safe for older people living with HIV? Researchers will compare true APA, in which small seeds are taped to specific ear points related to pain, with sham APA, in which seeds are taped to ear points not related to pain. The intervention will last 4 weeks. Participants will: Receive true APA or sham APA for 4 weeks Visit the study site weekly for placement of the ear seeds Press the ear seeds for 3 minutes, 3 times each day Complete daily surveys about pain and pain medication use Use a sleep monitor to track sleep Complete study assessments at the beginning and end of the intervention Complete an exit interview about their experience with APA
Official title: Effects of Auricular Point Acupressure for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Older People With HIV: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
50 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2026-10
Completion Date
2027-09
Last Updated
2026-10-01
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Auricular Point Acupressure
Participants will receive auricular point acupressure (APA) using Vaccaria seeds secured with adhesive tape to designated ear acupoints for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Both ears will be treated. Participants will be instructed to press the seeds for 3 minutes, 3 times daily. Treatment will continue for 4 weeks, with each weekly cycle consisting of 5 days of wearing the seeds followed by 2 days without the seeds. Seeds will be replaced weekly by trained study personnel.
Sham Auricular Point Acupressure
Participants will receive sham auricular point acupressure using the same materials, treatment schedule, and procedures as the APA group. However, Vaccaria seeds will be placed on non-specific ear points unrelated to chronic musculoskeletal pain. Participants will press the seeds for 3 minutes, 3 times daily for 4 weeks, following the same weekly treatment cycle as the APA group.
Locations (1)
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas, United States