Finger pressure may soothe joint pain in breast cancer patients
NCT ID NCT06228768
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether self-acupressure—using fingers to press on specific points on the body—can reduce joint pain and stiffness caused by aromatase inhibitors, a common hormone therapy for breast cancer. Fifty postmenopausal women with breast cancer learned to do acupressure on themselves for 12 weeks. Researchers measured changes in pain and also looked at effects on other symptoms and gut bacteria.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- self-acupressure (finger pressure on specific body points)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to manage joint pain and stiffness caused by breast cancer hormone therapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 50 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The effect may be small or due to the placebo effect.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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50 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2024
- Finished
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Nov 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Female or male subject aged ≥ 18 years * Taking the currently prescribed aromatase inhibitor therapy (anastrozole, exemestane, or letrozole) for adjuvant or palliative treatment of breast cancer or for chemoprevention for at least 3 weeks and no more than 2 years at the time of enrollment. * Planning to take the same AI therapy for at least 12 weeks. * New or worsening joint pain and/or myalgias since starting the AI therapy, with worst pain score of at least 4 out of 10 on the BPI over the 7 days prior to enrollment. * Completion of radiation therapy, if given, for treatment of breast cancer. * Completion of chemotherapy, if given. Concurrent use of LHRHa therapy, anti-HER2 therapy, bisphosphonate therapy, PARP inhibitor therapy, and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy is permitted. * Patients receiving treatment with NSAIDs, acetaminophen, opioids, duloxetine, cannabinoids, gabapentin, and/or pregabalin must have been taking a stable dose for at least 30 days prior to enrollment if they plan to continue the drug during study participation. If they do not plan to take the medication during study participation, they should stop the medication at least 7 days before initiation of study treatment. * Able to self-complete questionnaires in English. * Able to access WiFi/internet and willing to use an email account or download and use the MyDataHelps app. * Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines. Exclusion Criteria: * Use of acupuncture or acupressure in the past year, or planned use of acupuncture during study participation. * Use of systemic or transdermal estrogen during study participation. * Planned surgery during the 12-week study period. * Concurrent medical or arthritis disease such as painful bone metastases or active rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory arthritis that could confound or interfere with evaluation of pain or efficacy. Patients with osteoarthritis and asymptomatic bone metastases are eligible. * Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment, in the opinion of the treating investigator, has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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