Acupuncture's hidden effects: new study peers inside muscles with PET scans

NCT ID NCT07494162

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University of California, Davis Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study will test whether acupuncture can improve pain and function in people with chronic low back pain caused by myofascial pain syndrome. Sixty-four adults will receive either real acupuncture or sham (fake) acupuncture for eight weeks. Researchers will use full-body PET/CT scans to see if acupuncture changes metabolism and blood flow in painful muscle areas. The goal is to understand how acupuncture works, not to prove it is a cure.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Acupuncture
What this could lead to: If it works, this could show how acupuncture changes muscle tissue and blood flow, pointing toward better ways to treat chronic low back pain.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study focused on imaging, not a proven treatment. The results may not lead to a new therapy, and sham acupuncture may show similar effects.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

myofascial pain syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CHRONIC LOW-BACK PAIN (CLBP) MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME (MPS)

Contacts and locations

Locations

UC Davis EXPLORER Molecular Imaging Center
RECRUITING

Sacramento, California, 95816, United States

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