Analgesic Effects of Acupressure on Jing-jiaji Acupoints in a Rat Model of Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy

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.

Acupressure; Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy; Jing-jiaji acupoints; Neuropathic pain; PPAR-γ.