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Mechanical signaling through connective tissue: a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture
Author(s) -
Langevin Helene M.,
Churchill David L.,
Cipolla Marilyn J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.01-0015hyp
Subject(s) - dry needling , acupuncture , connective tissue , grasp , mechanism (biology) , mechanotransduction , medicine , acupuncture needle , biomedical engineering , neuroscience , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anatomy , pathology , computer science , biology , physics , alternative medicine , quantum mechanics , programming language
The mechanism of action of acupuncture remains largely unknown. The reaction to acupuncture needling known as ‘de qi’, widely viewed as essential to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture, may be a key to understanding its mechanism of action. De qi includes a characteristic needling sensation, perceived by the patient, and ‘needle grasp’ perceived by the acupuncturist. During needle grasp, the acupuncturist feels pulling and increased resistance to further movement of the inserted needle. We hypothesize that 1) needle grasp is due to mechanical coupling between the needle and connective tissue with winding of tissue around the needle during needle rotation and 2) needle manipulation transmits a mechanical signal to connective tissue cells via mechanotransduction. Such a mechanism may explain local and remote, as well as long‐term effects of acupuncture.—Langevin, H. M., Churchill, D. L., Cipolla, M. J. Mechanical signaling through connective tissue: a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. FASEB J. 15, 2275–2282 (2001)