AuriculoTherapy NeuroImaging
Eligible age
18+ yrs
Accepts
All genders
Locations
1 state
Healthy volunteers
No
See if you qualify for this study
Answer a few quick questions about your location and health. Takes about a minute.
About this study
This is a clinical study of patients who have low back pain (for at least 6 months). The goal is to understand, with brain imaging, how auriculotherapy (an acupuncture-like stimulation of the ear) may work to relieve pain. There are 4 total study visits, divided into two pairs of visits that occur before and 5-7 days after receiving either a real or sham auriculotherapy treatment. The cryo-IQ device will be used, to stimulate 7 small areas on both ears with a focused jet of cold as a small amount of compressed gas is released. This is generally not painful, and less invasive, compared to using needles for auriculotherapy.
Sponsor: Keith M Vogt
You may qualify if…
- ✓ 1. Adult, at least 18 years old
- ✓ 2. Episodes of chronic low back pain at least daily for at least 6 months, with an average pain score within the last week of 3/10.
You may not qualify if…
- ✕ 1. active lesions, skin disruptions, or neuropathy of either ear;
- ✕ 2. recent (\<1 month) analgesic procedures or surgery;
- ✕ 3. recent (\<1 month) start of new analgesic or psychoactive medication (including marijuana, opioids, tramadol, methadone, gabapentinoids, anti-depressants, anti-epileptics, mood-stabilizers, anti-psychotics, or stimulants);
- ✕ 4. history of chronic pain in shoulder or thumb (to avoid confounding at control stimulation points);
- ✕ 5. recent (\< 3 months) illicit drug use;
- ✕ 6. prior substance misuse/abuse;
- ✕ 7. cold-activated diseases (including: agammaglobulinemia, cold urticaria, cold agglutinin disease, cryofibrinogenemia, cryoglobulinemia, immunosuppression, Raynaud's disease, collagen or autoimmune diseases, multiple myeloma, platelet deficiency disorders, pyoderma gangrenosum.)
- ✕ \- MRI-specific exclusions additionally include:
Where it's recruiting
Pittsburgh
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06825390 · last updated 2026-02-18