Introducing Vibro-Acupuncture: A Psychophysical Study

Abstract

Subjective sensations were influenced by treatment mode, with MA and VA yielding higher stimulation responses compared with SA. VA evoked specific vibrational sensations beyond MA, which might have specific effects in various disorders.

Effects of Novel Vibro-Acupuncture on Healthy Subjects and Those with Experimental and Clinical Pain as Assessed by Quantitative Sensory Testing

“…The noninvasive PA treatment does not evoke the traditional de qi sensation, but the short pinprick sensation may evoke activity in nociceptors due to a blunt needle penetrating the skin around the acupuncture points, and C-fibers as well as Aδ-fibers could also be stimulated. Our previous study showed nonsignificant differences in the Massachusetts acupuncture sensation scale for PA compared with MA and VA across the different de qi descriptors, indicating that the placebo needle, at least in part, induced sensations comparable to those of real penetrating needles [13]. Our results suggest that VA, different from MA and PA, stimulated mainly Aβ-fibers by mechanical vibrostimulation [13,14].…”

“…Our previous study showed nonsignificant differences in the Massachusetts acupuncture sensation scale for PA compared with MA and VA across the different de qi descriptors, indicating that the placebo needle, at least in part, induced sensations comparable to those of real penetrating needles [13]. Our results suggest that VA, different from MA and PA, stimulated mainly Aβ-fibers by mechanical vibrostimulation [13,14].…”

“…In the PA treatment session, half-cut needles (custom-made) with a blunted tip were used to provoke a pricking sensation without actually puncturing the skin [13,22]. The needle was inserted through cube-shaped elastic foam and just touched the skin surface at the same points [13].…”

“…The microcontroller displays the amplitude and frequency values on a liquid crystal display. A 0-10 arbitrary scale is shown on the display to allow calibration of the amplitude output [13].…”

“…However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has previously investigated the analgesic effects of a combination of acupuncture and vibration. We have recently developed a new technique to combine these two modalities, called vibroacupuncture (VA), and designed an 'acu-vibrator' to facilitate its application [13].…”