Though separated by different millennia, languages,
levels of scientific advancement, and views of human
physiology, prehistoric and modern cultures have
expressed concepts of evaluating and treating human
illness analogous to those of TCM. The similarities of
prehistoric, ancient Egyptian, TCM, Mayan, myofascial
pain, and myofascial meridian concepts of health and
healing suggest these healing traditions likely are
expressing a common, fundamental aspect of human
anatomy and/or physiology.

This workshop will present the neuroanatomic
approach to acupuncture using modern anatomic
knowledge of joint and spine innervation along with
distal point selection per TCM principles combined
with anatomic/physiologic considerations.

Background: Acupuncture has been in clinical use for over 3000 years, and its methodology has evolved as new technological advances occurred over time.
Objective: To determine if relief of regional musculoskeletal pain using metal and laser needles at acupoints have clinical equivalence
Design: A prospective crossover cohort study of subjects previously treated for musculoskeletal pain with metal needles using laser stimulation of those same acupoints
Setting: Outpatient clinic
Subjects: 30 adults with chronic joint (knee or shoulder) and/or spine musculoskeletal pain previously successfully treated with acupuncture using metal needles
Intervention: Focused laser (Laserneedle) stimulation of the same acupoints previously treated with metal needles alternating with treatments using metal needles for 2 cycles (metal → laser → metal →laser)
Main Outcome Measures: VAS pain rating one to three weeks after treatment, patient preference (metal needle versus laser), laser complications
Results: For subjects with knee and shoulder arthritis, metal needle VAS was 5.9 while Laserneedle VAS was 3.1 (mean difference 2.8, P<0.001 single tail). For subjects with spine pain, the metal needle VAS was 3.7 while Laserneedle VAS was 2.95 (mean difference 0.75, P<0.074). 9/10 subjects with joint arthritis reported more efficacy with Laserneedle and the other found it equally efficacious. 10/20 spine pain subjects reported more pain relief efficacy with Laserneedle, and another 6 found the interventions equally efficacious. No complications from the laser treatment were noted.
Conclusions: This prospective, crossover cohort study of subjects with chronic musculoskeletal pain demonstrates that metal and laser acupuncture needles have clinical equivalence in reducing pain, and that patients (especially those with shoulder and knee arthritis) report preference for laser needle treatments.