We have reported a model that distinguishes
pain adaptive individuals (PA) from those who are
pain non-adaptive (PNA). The present randomised, cross-over, participant-assessor blinded study aimed to determine the impact of
pain adaptability on individuals' response to real and
sham acupuncture. Healthy volunteers (nine PA and 13 PNA) were randomly allocated to receive real and
sham acupuncture on the left hand and forearm in two separate acupuncture sessions. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were measured at bilateral forearms and right leg before, immediately after and 20 minutes after the end of acupuncture. Ratings to pinprick and suprathreshold PPT were also recorded. The two groups were comparable in their demographic and baseline data.
Analgesia induced by real or
sham acupuncture did not differ on any outcome measures. PA responded to acupuncture
needling better than PNA, and to
sham needling (20% increase in PPT) better than to real acupuncture (7.9%). Those differences were at 20 min after end of acupuncture in the areas distant to the
needling sites. PNA reported little changes in PPT. Being adaptive to
pain was associated with enhanced distant
analgesia in response to
sham acupuncture. Our finding might partly explain varied
acupuncture analgesia in clinical practice and trials.