Can acupuncture with electricity help seniors walk better?

NCT ID NCT05431010

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether electroacupuncture (acupuncture with mild electrical pulses) combined with standard rehabilitation can improve walking ability in elderly people with sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). 120 participants aged 60-95 will be randomly assigned to receive either electroacupuncture plus rehab or rehab alone for 12 weeks. The main focus is on walking distance, balance, and getting up from a chair.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
electroacupuncture
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a safe, non-drug option to improve walking and mobility in older adults with muscle loss.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial with no blinding of participants, so results may be influenced by placebo effects. The intervention is also time-intensive and may not be widely accessible.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Sarcopenia

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

    RECRUITING

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

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