Medical Information Only. Always consult your healthcare provider before enrolling in any clinical trial.
NCT03716830 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · NA
Enhancing Acupuncture Treatment Effect Through Non-invasive Neuromodulation
A NA study, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.
- Completed
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 116
- Enrollment target
NCT03716830: Completed NA study, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.
NCT03716830 is a NA study that has completed, run by Massachusetts General Hospital. The registered enrollment target is 116 participants, below the 1,404-participant average among 58,714 other NA trials with a reported enrollment target (92% lower). According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.
The verdict
NCT03716830, a NA study, has completed, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.
- COMPLETED
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 116 participants
- Enrollment target
Study Summary
In this study, investigators will examine the brain mechanism behind the synergistic effects of combining acupuncture and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatments. Specifically, chronic low back pain (cLBP) patients will be recruited and randomized to one of four groups (30 per group, one month of treatment): 1) verum acupuncture + real tDCS, 2) sham acupuncture + real tDCS, 3) verum acupuncture + sham tDCS, and 4) sham acupuncture + sham tDCS. Investigators will study 1) the longitudinal (one-month) effects of different treatments as indicated by changes in resting state functional connectivity (rsFC), cerebral blood flow (CBF), clinical outcomes of low back pain, and quantitative sensory test (QST) and 2) the association between these changes.
Primary Outcome
We investigated whether tDCS and acupuncture treatments modulate resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the periaqueductal gray (PAG). This was evaluated by comparing pre- and post-treatment MRI scans. In this report, we focused on the rsFC between the PAG and the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC, peak MNI coordinate (2, 38, 12) with a 2-mm radius sphere). Functional connectivity values were computed as Pearson's correlation coefficients between the mean time series of predefined
Interventions
- DEVICE sham tDCS
- DEVICE real tDCS
- DEVICE verum acupuncture
- DEVICE sham acupuncture
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 116 participants |
| Start Date | 2020-11-07 |
| Est. Completion | 2025-03-31 |
| Phase | NA |
What the finished NCT03716830 record still lists
NCT03716830 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. The registered 116 participants enrollment target is mid-sized for trials with a published cap, below the 1,404-participant average among 58,714 other NA trials with a reported enrollment target (92% lower).
The record links to 0 conditions, and to 4 interventions - of which sham tDCS is the first listed.
NCT03716830 does not publish any study locations in the registry export this page uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT03716830 about?
NCT03716830 is a clinical study titled "Enhancing Acupuncture Treatment Effect Through Non-invasive Neuromodulation". In this study, investigators will examine the brain mechanism behind the synergistic effects of combining acupuncture and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatments. Specifically, chronic low back pain (cLBP) patients will be recruited and randomized to one of four groups (30 per grou...
What is the current status of trial NCT03716830?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 116 participants. The study started on 2020-11-07. Estimated completion is 2025-03-31.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT03716830?
The interventions under investigation include: sham tDCS (DEVICE), real tDCS (DEVICE), verum acupuncture (DEVICE), sham acupuncture (DEVICE).
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT03716830?
This trial is sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital, which has 2,032 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
How this trial's enrollment target compares
Where NCT03716830's enrollment target sits among peer trials
116 808th of 2000 higher than 1,191 of 2,000 other NA trials
participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other NA trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08
Nationwide trials with similar profiles
Cross-condition peers matched on enrollment target and registry start date, not the same-condition list above.
Similar enrollment target
- NCT03014687 · 116 participants · Phase 4
Prophylactic Oral Antibiotics on Sinonasal Outcomes Following Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Lesions
- NCT03214562 · 116 participants · Phase 1
Venetoclax With Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed or Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- NCT03847467 · 116 participants · Phase 1
Pilot and Feasibility Study of 2'-FL as a Dietary Supplement in IBD Patients Receiving Stable Maintenance Anti-TNF Therapy
- NCT04222413 · 116 participants · Phase 1
Metarrestin (ML-246) in Subjects With Metastatic Solid Tumors
Similar registry start date
- NCT05962346 · started 2026-12 · NA
Fetal Endoscopic Tracheal Occlusion for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
- NCT07125183 · started 2026-12 · Phase 2
Study on Efficacy and Tolerability of Weekly Doxorubicin in Elderly Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma
- NCT07292298 · started 2026-11 · Phase 2
Phase 2 Single-Arm Rectal Cancer Brachytherapy for Patients With Low-Lying Residual Adenocarcinoma After Total Neoadjuvant Therapy to Improve Organ Preservation Rates
- NCT04263285 · started 2026-10 · NA
Treatment of Depression Post-SCI