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CompletedNCT06318156Updated Jun 15, 2025

Exploring the Distribution Patterns and Infrared Characteristics of Force-sensitive Acupoints in Different Lumbar Nerve Segments in Patients With LDH Based on "Press Quickly" Theory

An interventional study of Infrared thermal imaging in Lumbar Disc Herniation, sponsored by Zhou Xingchen. Completed at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-06-15.

Sponsored by Zhou Xingchen · Not applicable, Interventional, and Screening

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 2 years 2 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jan 2022, registered Mar 2024).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
160
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Utilizing the "responsive acupoint palpation" technique and infrared thermography, we investigated the distribution patterns of pressure-sensitive acupoints across different lumbar spinal segments in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methodology: The Finger TPS tactile pressure measurement system was employed to conduct sensitivity examinations on the acupoints of the L1\~L5 lumbar spine in 80 LDH patients (Group 1) and 80 healthy individuals (Group 2), applying a standardized force of 60N. When a sensation of comfort was elicited, the points were marked on a human cutaneous nerve segment map. We then utilized infrared thermography to collect and compare the temperature differences of the top 10 most frequently responsive acupoint areas in the experimental group against those in the control group.

02

Conditions studied

  • Lumbar Disc Herniation

Keywords

  • Lumbar Disc Herniation
  • Press quickly
  • Point-press method
  • Pressure-sensitive acupoints
  • Infrared thermal imaging
03

In context

Intervertebral Disc Displacement

478 studies on the registry are indexed under Intervertebral Disc Displacement; 104 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 160 is above the median of 63 across 344 interventional studies indexed under Intervertebral Disc Displacement.

Browse Intervertebral Disc Displacement studies →

Lead sponsor

Zhou Xingchen is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Age range of 18 to 65 years, regardless of gender.
  • Radiological confirmation of central type L4\~L5 intervertebral disc herniation.
  • Meeting the diagnostic criteria for lumbar disc herniation, primarily manifesting as lower back pain, radicular pain, and numbness or weakness in the lower limbs, with imaging findings consistent with neurological localization.
  • Patients in the non-acute phase of mild to moderate pain and functional impairment (onset more than 2 weeks ago), with a visual analog scale (VAS) score greater than 4 points and a Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score less than 15 points.
  • No consumption of analgesics, neurotrophic drugs, or sedatives, and no systemic treatment in the past week.
  • Willing participants in the study who have signed an informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Concomitant internist and gynecological diseases that can cause lower back pain, such as nephritis, urinary tract stones, gynecological inflammations, and uterine pathologies.
  • Individuals with severe primary diseases of the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, liver, kidney, etc.
  • Patients with neurosis or psychiatric disorders, or those with a history of cranial trauma or coma.
  • Patients with primary or ankylosing sciatica.
  • Individuals with concomitant lumbar spondylolisthesis.
  • Patients with lumbar spine tumors or tuberculosis.
  • Individuals with consciousness disorders, severe impairments in vision, hearing, or speech, or any other condition that prevents the completion of a health assessment.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Screening
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
160 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Group1(lumbar disc herniation)

    A well-trained physician donned the Finger TPS tactile pressure measurement system (Finger TPS II, BTLETG03, USA), methodically applying a consistent 60N force with a single thumb vertically downward on the acupoints of the L1 to L5 spinal segments, in accordance with the human cutaneous nerve segment map. Additionally, environmental conditions were meticulously controlled-temperature maintained between 20°C to 25°C, relative humidity at 50% to 60%, with gentle indoor lighting, quiet, and stable airflow. The MESH T-1000 Smart medical infrared thermograph, produced by Wuhan Gewu Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., was utilized to assess the surface temperature of the patient's pressure-sensitive acupoint areas.

    Diagnostic Test: Infrared thermal imaging

  • Experimental
    Group2 (healthy control)

    A well-trained physician donned the Finger TPS tactile pressure measurement system (Finger TPS II, BTLETG03, USA), methodically applying a consistent 60N force with a single thumb vertically downward on the acupoints of the L1 to L5 spinal segments, in accordance with the human cutaneous nerve segment map. Additionally, environmental conditions were meticulously controlled-temperature maintained between 20°C to 25°C, relative humidity at 50% to 60%, with gentle indoor lighting, quiet, and stable airflow. The MESH T-1000 Smart medical infrared thermograph, produced by Wuhan Gewu Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., was utilized to assess the surface temperature of the patient's pressure-sensitive acupoint areas.

    Diagnostic Test: Infrared thermal imaging

Interventions

  • Diagnostic testInfrared thermal imaging

    A well-trained physician donned the Finger TPS tactile pressure measurement system (Finger TPS II, BTLETG03, USA), methodically applying a consistent 60N force with a single thumb vertically downward on the acupoints of the L1 to L5 spinal segments, in accordance with the human cutaneous nerve segment map. Additionally, environmental conditions were meticulously controlled-temperature maintained between 20°C to 25°C, relative humidity at 50% to 60%, with gentle indoor lighting, quiet, and stable airflow. The MESH T-1000 Smart medical infrared thermograph, produced by Wuhan Gewu Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., was utilized to assess the surface temperature of the patient's pressure-sensitive acupoint areas.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. skin temperature

    The medical infrared thermographic camera captures thermal images of the human cutaneous nerve segment map on the back of the subjects, focusing on the L1 to L5 spinal segment areas.

    Time frame: up to one month

07

Study locations

1 site
  • The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
    Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 15, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06318156
Lead sponsor
Zhou Xingchen
Responsible party
Zhou Xingchen (Prof., The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Mar 19, 2024
Start date
Jan 1, 2022
Primary completion
Jan 1, 2025
Completion
Jan 1, 2025
Last update
Jun 15, 2025

Study contacts

Li-Jiang Lv, Ph.D.
study chair · The Third Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang,China

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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