title: Acupuncture-Analgesia Following a Single Treatment Session in Chronic Whiplash is Unrelated to Autonomic Nervous System Changes: A Randomized Cross-over Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An acupuncture treatment can reduce pain sensitivity in patients with chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD). But it has been hypothesized that many of the experimental results in acupuncture research could be interpreted as stress-induced analgesia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed at examining whether acupuncture has an effect on the autonomic nervous system response in patients with chronic WAD and if this response is related to the pain inhibition after an acupuncture session.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized crossover trial with blinded assessor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two private practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients with chronic WAD received 2 treatment sessions of identical duration, with acupuncture and relaxation therapy randomly crossed over in the 2 visits. The primary outcome measurement was the registration of autonomic nervous system parameters (heart rate, skin conductance, and heart rate variability parameters) during the administration of experimental pain. Endogenous analgesia was the secondary outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following one acupuncture treatment session, there was a significant change for 2 parameters: the heart rate was slightly reduced and the skin conductance was raised. Comparing the effects of acupuncture and relaxation, no differences were found with respect to the change in any of the autonomic parameters. Further, the reduction in pain sensitivity in response to acupuncture treatment was unrelated to any of the changes in autonomic measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results were observed after only one session of acupuncture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with chronic WAD, in response to a single treatment session, no acupuncture specific effects on the autonomic response to pain assessment were present and the analgesia after one session of acupuncture is not caused by stress-induced analgesia but is more likely the result of an acupuncture specific reaction.
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group (www.paininmotion.be); Department of Human Physiology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Kooning
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group, www.paininmotion.be; and Born Bunge Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp (UA), Antwerp, Belgium;De Zuil, Centre for Chronic Pain Treatment and Relaxation Therapy, Westerlo, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tobbackx
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group (www.paininmotion.be); Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meeus
authors.affiliation: Private practice for acupuncture, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wauters
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group (www.paininmotion.be).
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ickmans
authors.affiliation: Belgian Acupuncture Federation, Schoten, Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Vilder
authors.affiliation: European Federation of Oriental Medicine, Eigenbilzen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roose
authors.affiliation: European Federation of Oriental Medicine, Eigenbilzen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.affiliation: Pain in Motion Research Group (www.paininmotion.be); Department of Human Physiology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nijs
mesh_terms: D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult