A controlled analysis of phenomenon of acupoint sensitization in osteonecrosis of the femoral head

doi:10.12307/2025.871

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Acupoints are known to be sensitized in various disorders involving chronic musculoskeletal pain, which may be useful to target during acupuncture. However, whether such acupoint sensitization occurs in osteonecrosis of the femoral head is unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether acupoints are sensitized in osteonecrosis of the femoral head patients through comparison with healthy controls.
METHODS: Mechanical pressure pain thresholds were measured at 6 acupoints and 3 non-acupoints on the affected and unaffected sides of 50 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The 6 local acupoints on the affected side of the hip that were commonly used to treat osteonecrosis of the femoral head included Chengfu (BL36), Zhibian (BL54), Juliao (GB29), Huantiao (GB30), Qichong (ST30), and Biguan (ST31). At the same time, three non-acupoints were selected, one on each side of the anterior, lateral, and posterior sides of the hip joint. The pain thresholds of the same parts of 50 healthy control subjects matched with the patients in sex and age were also measured. All measurements were performed at a single time point.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Acupoints on the affected side of 36%-60% of osteonecrosis of the femoral head patients showed a mechanical pressure pain threshold that was lower than acupoints on the unaffected side, suggesting peripheral sensitization. (2) Acupoints on the unaffected side of 34%-48% of patients showed a pain threshold that was lower than acupoints on the corresponding side of healthy controls, suggesting central sensitization. (3) Among patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head, sensitization was significantly higher at all acupoints than at all non-acupoints on the affected side (P < 0.05), but it did not differ significantly between acupoints and non-acupoints on the unaffected side. (4) This study provides the first evidence of acupoint sensitization associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Stimulating sensitized acupoints, particularly on the affected side, may help mitigate pain in the disorder.

Key words: osteonecrosis of the femoral head, pain, peripheral sensitization, central sensitization, acupoints, mechanical tenderness threshold

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CLC Number:

Yao Kexin, Yang Yidan, Li Yapeng, Zhu Xuanye, Wang Qiuyuan, Guo Jiayi, Liu Youwen, Yue Chen. A controlled analysis of phenomenon of acupoint sensitization in osteonecrosis of the femoral head[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2026, 30(15): 3913-3919.

Figures/Tables 5

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