title: Acupuncture sensation during ultrasound guided acupuncture needling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although acupuncture sensation (also known as de qi) is a cornerstone of traditional acupuncture therapy, most research has accepted the traditional method of defining acupuncture sensation only through subjective patient reports rather than on any quantifiable physiological basis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To preliminarily investigate the frequency of key sensations experienced while needling to specific, quantifiable tissue levels (TLs) guided by ultrasound (US) imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five participants received needling at two acupuncture points and two control points at four TLs. US scans were used to determine when each TL was reached. Each volunteer completed 32 sets of modified Southampton Needle Sensation Questionnaires. Part one of the study tested sensations experienced at each TL and part two compared the effect of oscillation alone versus oscillation+rotation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all volunteers, the frequency of pricking, sharp sensations was significantly greater in shallower TLs than deeper (p=0.007); the frequency of sensations described as deep, dull and heavy, as spreading, and as electric shocks was significantly greater in deeper TLs than shallower (p=0.002). Sensations experienced did not significantly differ between real and control points within each of three TLs (p>0.05) except TL 4 (p=0.006). The introduction of needle rotation significantly increased deep, dull, heavy sensations, but not pricking and sharp sensations; within each level, the spectrum of sensation experienced during both oscillation+rotation and oscillation alone did not significantly differ between acupuncture and control points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary study indicates a strong connection between acupuncture sensation and both tissue depth and needle rotation. Furthermore, the new methodology has been proven feasible. A further study with an objective measurement is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, 1st Floor, North Wing, UNC Hospitals, Campus Box #7200, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. jongbae_park@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Jongbae J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Margeaux
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akazawa
authors.forename: Jaeki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Selena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beckman-Harned
authors.forename: Feng-Chang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kwangjae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Langevin
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D019413:Qi; D012399:Rotation; D012677:Sensation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014110:Touch; D014465:Ultrasonics