Analgesic Effects of Acupressure on Jing-jiaji Acupoints in a Rat Model of Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy
- Mol Neurobiol. 2025 May 17. doi: 10.1007/s12035-025-04984-5.
- 1. Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410000, Hunan Province, China.
- 2. Acupuncture Department I, Yueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, 414000, Hunan Province, China.
- 3. Acupuncture Department I, Yueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, 414000, Hunan Province, China. [email protected].
- 4. Acupuncture Department I, Yueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang, 414000, Hunan Province, China. [email protected].
Background: Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) is increasingly prevalent, causing neck Pain and radiating symptoms. As alternatives to surgery, acupressure stimulation of Jing-jiaji acupoints therapies have gained traction albeit lacking evidence.
Methods: Rats underwent spinal cord compression modeling CSR or sham surgery, alongside normal controls. A week post-surgery, CSR rats underwent no intervention or standardized acupressure of Jing-jiaji acupoints at 2, 4 or 6N. Sensory, locomotor and electrophysiological functions were assessed along with tissue analyses for Pain mediators.
Results: Relative to sham group, untreated CSR rats exhibited mechanical/pressure Pain hypersensitivity, gait impairments, slowed nerve conduction velocities and reduced sensory evoked potentials, accompanied by heightened spinal inflammation and neuronal damage. Acupressure markedly attenuated these neuropathic CSR manifestations in a stimulus-dependent manner, with maximal therapeutic efficacy observed at 4-6N intensity.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates bilateral acupressure stimulation of neck Jing-jiaji acupoints to effectively mitigate characteristic neurogenic Pain and neurological dysfunction in a rodent CSR model.