Auricular Acupuncture for Autonomic Balance and Pain in Fibromyalgia

June 6, 2026 updated by: Antonello Lovato, Italian Association for the Research and the Scientific Update

Impact of Semi-Permanent Auricular Acupuncture on Autonomic Balance and Pressure Pain Threshold in Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Longitudinal Study

This longitudinal study evaluates the effects of semi-permanent auricular acupuncture on the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) activity and pressure pain threshold in adult female patients (aged 35-64) diagnosed with Fibromyalgia according to the 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. The study aims to investigate how a 5-week treatment cycle influences cardiac autonomic regulation and pain sensitivity

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Participants will undergo a series of 5 weekly sessions of auricular acupuncture using semi-permanent needles (Pyonex Seirin 0.9 mm). The needles will be applied to specific auricular points: Point Zero, Shen Men, Thalamus, and Master Cerebral Point. Each application will last for 72 hours, with the patient performing the removal

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Italy
    • VICENZA
      • Lonigo, VICENZA, Italy, 36045
        • Pain Therapy Clinic, Lonigo (VI)
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Confirmed diagnosis of Fibromyalgia by a Rheumatologist according to the 2016 ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria.

  • Female sex.
  • Aged between 35 and 64 years.
  • Signed written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of cardiac rhythm disorders such as permanent Atrial Fibrillation.
  • Patients with Pacemakers.
  • Subjects affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Patients taking continuous medications that can alter the autonomic response (e.g., beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics, inhaled beta2-agonists).
  • Subjects with specific contraindications to auricular acupuncture.

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Auricular Acupuncture for Autonomic Balance and Pain in Fibromyalgia.
Participants will undergo a series of 5 weekly sessions of auricular acupuncture using semi-permanent needles (Pyonex Seirin 0.9 mm). The needles will be applied to specific auricular points: Point Zero, Shen Men, Thalamus, and Master Cerebral Point. Each application will last for 72 hours, with the patient performing the removal
Device: The needles will be applied to specific auricular points: Point Zero, Shen Men, Thalamus, and Master Cerebral Point.
Participants will undergo a series of 5 weekly sessions of auricular acupuncture using semi-permanent needles (Pyonex Seirin 0.9 mm). The needles will be applied to specific auricular points: Point Zero, Shen Men, Thalamus, and Master Cerebral Point. Each application will last for 72 hours, with the patient performing the removal

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Balance via LF/HF Ratio
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), Week 1 (T1), Week 2 (T2), Week 3 (T3), Week 4 (T4), and Follow-up at Week 8 (T5).
Evaluated through Photoplethysmography (PPG) using the PPG Stress Flow device. The autonomic nervous system balance is expressed specifically by the Low Frequency to High Frequency (LF/HF) ratio. Other spectral parameters (SDNN and HF power) are collected simultaneously to support the comprehensive Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis. All measurements are taken immediately before each acupuncture session.
Baseline (T0), Week 1 (T1), Week 2 (T2), Week 3 (T3), Week 4 (T4), and Follow-up at Week 8 (T5).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline in Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), Week 2 (T2), Week 4 (T4), and Week 8 (T5)
Measured using the Force Ten FPX 25 Algometer to determine the minimum pressure perceived as painful. Measurements are taken at three specific body points: Trapezius (GB21), Lateral Epicondyle (LI11), and below the knee (ST36). Measurements are taken immediately before the acupuncture session
Baseline (T0), Week 2 (T2), Week 4 (T4), and Week 8 (T5)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Italian Association for the Research and the Scientific Update

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)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 6, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 6, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AIRAS-FIBRO-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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