Pain ManagementNCT07197710
Imagined Acupuncture for Postoperative Pain After Spinal Surgery
A study testing video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT) and Education video in people with Pain Management, run by Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D. at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether imagined acupuncture can reduce postoperative acute pain in adult patients undergoing spinal surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does video-guided imagined acupuncture improve postoperative pain control? Does the intervention reduce opioid… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Pain Management
- What is being tested?
- video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT) and Education video
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2025to 19 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Undergoing 1- to 2-level primary spine surgery
- Aged 18 years or older
- Willing and able to receive postoperative imagined acupuncture (VGAIT)
- Able to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Undergoing revision surgery or procedures involving more than 3 spinal levels
- History of prior spinal surgery
- Intraoperative complications likely to interfere with postoperative pain assessment
- Diagnosed with severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders that impair participation or communication
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Unable to cooperate with treatment or pain assessments Individuals with uncorrectable vision impairment that would interfere with viewing study videos or completing study questionnaires.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
Jingping Wang, 6176432729, jwang23@MGH.Harvard.edu
About this study
Official title: Assessing the Efficacy of Imagined Acupuncture for Postoperative Acute Pain Management in Spinal Surgery
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether imagined acupuncture can reduce postoperative acute pain in adult patients undergoing spinal surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does video-guided imagined acupuncture improve postoperative pain control?
Read more
Does the intervention reduce opioid consumption and improve functional recovery in the immediate postoperative period?
Researchers will compare the imagined acupuncture group to the control education video group to see if imagery-based intervention leads to better pain outcomes and reduced analgesic use.
Participants will:
Watch a 30-minute video once daily for 7 consecutive days after surgery
Complete pain and function assessments during the hospital stay and postoperative follow-up
- Conditions
- Pain Management
- Being tested
- video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT), Education video
- Keywords
- Postoperative Acute Pain, Imagined Acupuncture
- Medical subject headings
- Agnosia, Pain, Postoperative
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT)Other
Unlike traditional acupuncture, VGAIT can be self-administered and does not require physical needle insertion, making it a practical alternative for patients seeking non-invasive pain management.
Education videoOther
Education video about postoperative precautions
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Imagined Acupuncture Intervention | Experimental | Participants assigned to Group 1 will receive standard postoperative care and a daily VGAIT session once per day for seven consecutive days following surgery. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes and will be guided by a standardized video designed to induce acupuncture imagery and mental engagement. VGAIT will be administered at the same time each day (e.g., 9:00 AM ± 30 minutes). VAS and ODI assessments will be administered following the completion of the video session. The initial video session will be administered once the patient has fully regained consciousness in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) following surgery. Receives: Other: video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT) |
| Group 2: Education video | Sham comparator | Participants in the control group will receive standard postoperative care and Education video without any simulated acupuncture intervention. VAS and ODI assessments will be conducted at the same intervals as in Group 1 for consistency and comparison. Receives: Other: Education video |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Scores (VAS)
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) daily, including VAS at rest, VAS on movement
Measured: During the first postoperative week (Days 0-6)
2) Functional Scores (ODI)
Functional status will be evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Measured: On postoperative Day6
3) Rescue Opioid Consumption
The total amount of rescue opioid medication used during the first postoperative week will be recorded in milligrams (oral and intravenous)
Measured: On postoperative Day6
Secondary outcomes (5)
1) Time to First Rescue Analgesia
The exact time (in hours and minutes) from the end of surgery to the administration of the first rescue analgesic will be recorded
Measured: On postoperative Day6
2) Total Analgesic Consumption
The cumulative amount of all pain medications (opioid and non-opioid, oral and intravenous) administered within 7 days postoperatively, recorded in milligrams.
Measured: On postoperative Day6
3) Length of Hospital Stay
Measured as the number of days from the date of surgery to the date of hospital discharge.
Measured: On postoperative Day6
4) Adverse Effects
Incidence of treatment-related side effects, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, respiratory depression, urinary retention, ileus, or any other reported complications.
Measured: On postoperative Day6
5) Additional Assessment Tools
RCSQ: Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire
Measured: On postoperative Day6
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Sep 2025
- Study start1 Oct 2025
- Primary completion19 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion19 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Pain ManagementStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D.
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07197710
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025P001674
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 25 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 8 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to concerns about patient privacy and the sensitive nature of the data collected, including postoperative pain scores and behavioral intervention responses.
Publications
Kong J, Eshel MN. Applying the Power of the Mind in Acupuncture Treatment of Pain. Med Acupunct. 2020 Dec 1;32(6):367-372. doi: 10.1089/acu.2020.1477. Epub 2020 Dec 16.
PubMed 33362889Kong J, Kaptchuk TJ, Polich G, Kirsch I, Vangel M, Zyloney C, Rosen B, Gollub RL. An fMRI study on the interaction and dissociation between expectation of pain relief and acupuncture treatment. Neuroimage. 2009 Sep;47(3):1066-76. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.087. Epub 2009 Jun 6.
PubMed 19501656Cao J, Tu Y, Orr SP, Wilson G, Kong J. Modulatory Effects of Actual and Imagined Acupuncture on the Functional Connectivity of the Periaqueductal Gray and Ventral Tegmental Area. Psychosom Med. 2021 Oct 1;83(8):870-879. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000984.
PubMed 34292206Cao J, Tu Y, Orr SP, Lang C, Park J, Vangel M, Chen L, Gollub R, Kong J. Analgesic Effects Evoked by Real and Imagined Acupuncture: A Neuroimaging Study. Cereb Cortex. 2019 Jul 22;29(8):3220-3231. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhy190.
PubMed 30137262Cao J, Tu Y, Wilson G, Orr SP, Kong J. Characterizing the analgesic effects of real and imagined acupuncture using functional and structure MRI. Neuroimage. 2020 Nov 1;221:117176. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117176. Epub 2020 Jul 17.
PubMed 32682992Kong Q, Sacca V, Walker K, Hodges S, Kong J. Thalamocortical Mechanisms Underlying Real and Imagined Acupuncture. Biomedicines. 2023 Jun 26;11(7):1830. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11071830.
PubMed 37509469Cao J, Orr SP, Wilson G, Kong J. Imagined and Actual Acupuncture Effects on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Study. Neural Plast. 2020 Jul 1;2020:8579743. doi: 10.1155/2020/8579743. eCollection 2020.
PubMed 32684925
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessing the Efficacy of Imagined Acupuncture for Postoperative Acute Pain Management in Spinal Surgery
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07197710
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025P001674
- Conditions
- Pain Management
- Keywords
- Postoperative Acute Pain, Imagined Acupuncture
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D.University, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 19 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether imagined acupuncture can reduce postoperative acute pain in adult patients undergoing spinal surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does video-guided imagined acupuncture improve postoperative pain control?
Does the intervention reduce opioid consumption and improve functional recovery in the immediate postoperative period?
Researchers will compare the imagined acupuncture group to the control education video group to see if imagery-based intervention leads to better pain outcomes and reduced analgesic use.
Participants will:
Watch a 30-minute video once daily for 7 consecutive days after surgery
Complete pain and function assessments during the hospital stay and postoperative follow-up
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Imagined Acupuncture Intervention | Experimental | Other: video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT)Participants assigned to Group 1 will receive standard postoperative care and a daily VGAIT session once per day for seven consecutive days following surgery. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes and will be guided by a standardized video designed to induce acupuncture imagery and mental engagement. VGAIT will be administered at the same time each day (e.g., 9:00 AM ± 30 minutes). VAS and ODI assessments will be administered following the completion of the video session. The initial video session will be administered once the patient has fully regained consciousness in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) following surgery. |
| Group 2: Education video | Sham comparator | Other: Education videoParticipants in the control group will receive standard postoperative care and Education video without any simulated acupuncture intervention. VAS and ODI assessments will be conducted at the same intervals as in Group 1 for consistency and comparison. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Undergoing 1- to 2-level primary spine surgery
- Aged 18 years or older
- Willing and able to receive postoperative imagined acupuncture (VGAIT)
- Able to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Undergoing revision surgery or procedures involving more than 3 spinal levels
- History of prior spinal surgery
- Intraoperative complications likely to interfere with postoperative pain assessment
- Diagnosed with severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders that impair participation or communication
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT)Unlike traditional acupuncture, VGAIT can be self-administered and does not require physical needle insertion, making it a practical alternative for patients seeking non-invasive pain management. | Other | Group 1: Imagined Acupuncture Intervention |
| Education videoEducation video about postoperative precautions | Other | Group 2: Education video |
Primary outcome
Pain Scores (VAS)
Time frame: During the first postoperative week (Days 0-6)
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) daily, including VAS at rest, VAS on movement
2) Functional Scores (ODI)
Time frame: On postoperative Day6
Functional status will be evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
3) Rescue Opioid Consumption
Time frame: On postoperative Day6
The total amount of rescue opioid medication used during the first postoperative week will be recorded in milligrams (oral and intravenous)
5 secondary outcomes
1) Time to First Rescue Analgesia
Time frame: On postoperative Day6
2) Total Analgesic Consumption
Time frame: On postoperative Day6
3) Length of Hospital Stay
Time frame: On postoperative Day6
4) Adverse Effects
Time frame: On postoperative Day6
5) Additional Assessment Tools
Time frame: On postoperative Day6
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jun 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 33362889Kong J, Eshel MN. Applying the Power of the Mind in Acupuncture Treatment of Pain. Med Acupunct. 2020 Dec 1;32(6):367-372. doi: 10.1089/acu.2020.1477. Epub 2020 Dec 16.
- Results publication: PubMed 19501656Kong J, Kaptchuk TJ, Polich G, Kirsch I, Vangel M, Zyloney C, Rosen B, Gollub RL. An fMRI study on the interaction and dissociation between expectation of pain relief and acupuncture treatment. Neuroimage. 2009 Sep;47(3):1066-76. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.087. Epub 2009 Jun 6.
- Results publication: PubMed 34292206Cao J, Tu Y, Orr SP, Wilson G, Kong J. Modulatory Effects of Actual and Imagined Acupuncture on the Functional Connectivity of the Periaqueductal Gray and Ventral Tegmental Area. Psychosom Med. 2021 Oct 1;83(8):870-879. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000984.
- Results publication: PubMed 30137262Cao J, Tu Y, Orr SP, Lang C, Park J, Vangel M, Chen L, Gollub R, Kong J. Analgesic Effects Evoked by Real and Imagined Acupuncture: A Neuroimaging Study. Cereb Cortex. 2019 Jul 22;29(8):3220-3231. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhy190.
- Results publication: PubMed 32682992Cao J, Tu Y, Wilson G, Orr SP, Kong J. Characterizing the analgesic effects of real and imagined acupuncture using functional and structure MRI. Neuroimage. 2020 Nov 1;221:117176. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117176. Epub 2020 Jul 17.
- Results publication: PubMed 37509469Kong Q, Sacca V, Walker K, Hodges S, Kong J. Thalamocortical Mechanisms Underlying Real and Imagined Acupuncture. Biomedicines. 2023 Jun 26;11(7):1830. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11071830.
- Results publication: PubMed 32684925Cao J, Orr SP, Wilson G, Kong J. Imagined and Actual Acupuncture Effects on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Study. Neural Plast. 2020 Jul 1;2020:8579743. doi: 10.1155/2020/8579743. eCollection 2020.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to concerns about patient privacy and the sensitive nature of the data collected, including postoperative pain scores and behavioral intervention responses.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT) and Education video in people with Pain Management, run by Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D. at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jingping Wang Associate Professor (6176432729, JWANG23@mgh.harvard.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain Scores (VAS) (time frame: During the first postoperative week (Days 0-6)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07197710, which also lists 7 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jun 2026.