The Effect of Acupuncture on Pulmonary Function Recovery Following Lung Resection

February 25, 2026 updated by: Chung Shan Medical University

The Effect of Acupuncture on Pulmonary Function Recovery Following Lung Resection: A Clinical Trial

Background and Purpose:

Lung resection surgery is the standard treatment for early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, but it often leads to reduced lung volume and postoperative pain, which can hinder pulmonary recovery. While standard rehabilitation includes breathing exercises (incentive spirometry) and pain management, additional strategies are needed to enhance recovery. Acupuncture has shown benefits in managing respiratory diseases like COPD and reducing surgical pain, but its specific effectiveness in rehabilitation after lung resection has not yet been established. This study aims to evaluate whether adding acupuncture to standard postoperative care can further improve lung function and recovery.

Study Design and Methods:

This is a randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants who have undergone lung resection will be assigned to one of two groups:

Control Group: Receives standard rehabilitation (lung volume training with incentive spirometry).

Intervention Group: Receives standard rehabilitation plus acupuncture therapy.

Evaluation:

One week after surgery, researchers will perform pulmonary function tests on all participants. The study will compare the two groups primarily based on improvements in lung function. Secondary outcomes, including pain levels and quality of life, will also be assessed to determine the overall benefit and safety of integrating acupuncture into postoperative recovery.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Lung resection surgery is the standard diagnostic and therapeutic approach for patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. However, removal of part of the lung inevitably leads to a reduction in lung volume. In addition, postoperative pain often limits respiratory movement, resulting in impaired pulmonary function recovery. Therefore, rehabilitation strategies are essential to help maintain and restore cardiopulmonary capacity following surgery. According to current clinical guidelines, the most commonly recommended rehabilitation methods include structured cardiopulmonary training and adequate perioperative analgesia. Other supportive interventions, such as physical therapy and alternative exercise programs, have also been explored in recent clinical studies, with varying levels of effectiveness. Given the steadily increasing number of patients undergoing lung resection each year, the development and evaluation of additional therapeutic strategies to enhance postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation are of growing importance.

Acupuncture has been widely applied in the management of respiratory diseases and in perioperative pain control. Evidence from clinical studies supports its therapeutic effect in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In patients with COPD, acupuncture has been shown to improve pulmonary function and quality of life. Furthermore, research has demonstrated that acupuncture can play a role in reducing postoperative pain and enhancing recovery. Despite these findings, a review of the literature indicates that no studies have yet specifically evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture in postoperative rehabilitation among patients who have undergone lung resection. Considering that lung cancer has been included in integrative oncology outpatient programs in traditional Chinese medicine, the potential role of acupuncture as an adjunct to rehabilitation after lung resection warrants systematic investigation.

This study is designed as a randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients in the control group will receive the current standard rehabilitation program, which consists of lung volume training with incentive spirometry following lung resection surgery. Patients in the intervention group will receive the same rehabilitation protocol with the addition of acupuncture therapy. Pulmonary function tests will be conducted one week after surgery in both groups to assess and compare postoperative outcomes. The primary endpoint will be the improvement of lung function parameters, while secondary outcomes will include pain levels, patient-reported quality of life, and tolerability of the intervention.

Through this design, the study aims to provide high-quality clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in enhancing postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation after lung resection. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of integrative treatment strategies, offering patients improved recovery pathways that combine evidence-based conventional methods with traditional therapies.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
56

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients aged between 18 and 65 years.

Diagnosed with a single pulmonary lesion (e.g., solitary pulmonary nodule or adenocarcinoma in situ).

Scheduled to undergo elective wedge resection for the lung lesion.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of prior lung resection.

Medical history of asthma or pulmonary tuberculosis.

History of pneumothorax prior to the current surgery.

Expectation to receive rehabilitation therapies other than the standard protocol-defined incentive spirometry during the study period.

Presence of other major systemic diseases (e.g., severe cardiovascular, renal, or hepatic impairment) that, in the investigator's opinion, render the patient unsuitable for trial participation.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Acupuncture plus Standard Rehabilitation
Participants in this group will receive acupuncture therapy in addition to the standard postoperative rehabilitation program. Standard rehabilitation includes lung volume training with incentive spirometry. Acupuncture sessions will be administered following lung resection surgery.
Procedure: Acupuncture Therapy
Acupuncture will be administered by certified practitioners.
Device: Incentive Spirometry (Standard Rehabilitation)
Postoperative lung volume training using an incentive spirometer. Participants are instructed to perform deep breathing exercises multiple times a day as per current clinical guidelines for lung resection recovery.
Active Comparator: Standard Rehabilitation Alone
Participants in this group will receive the current standard rehabilitation program, consisting of lung volume training with incentive spirometry following lung resection surgery. No acupuncture therapy will be administered.
Device: Incentive Spirometry (Standard Rehabilitation)
Postoperative lung volume training using an incentive spirometer. Participants are instructed to perform deep breathing exercises multiple times a day as per current clinical guidelines for lung resection recovery.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-surgery) and 1 week after surgery.
The change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), measured in liters, from the preoperative baseline to 1 week after surgery.
Baseline (pre-surgery) and 1 week after surgery.
Change from Baseline in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-surgery) and 1 week after surgery.
The change in FEV1, measured in liters, from the preoperative baseline to 1 week after surgery.
Baseline (pre-surgery) and 1 week after surgery.
Change from Baseline in Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide (DLCo)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-surgery) and 1 week after surgery.
The change in DLCo (measured in mL/min/mmHg) from the preoperative baseline to 1 week after surgery, to assess the gas exchange efficiency of the lungs.
Baseline (pre-surgery) and 1 week after surgery.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postoperative Dyspnea Severity (Borg Scale)
Time Frame: 1 week after surgery
Assessed using the Modified Borg Scale to evaluate the severity of shortness of breath. The scale ranges from 0 (no breathlessness at all) to 10 (maximal breathlessness).
1 week after surgery
Postoperative Pain Intensity (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS)
Time Frame: Daily from postoperative day 1 through day 7
Assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Daily from postoperative day 1 through day 7

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Chung Shan Medical University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 25, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 25, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CS2-25161

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

To protect the privacy of study participants and maintain data confidentiality in accordance with institutional review board (IRB) policies, there is no plan to share individual participant data with external researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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