Clinical Trial of Electroacupuncture in Axial Spondyloarthritis (E-AcuSpA)

"Manual acupuncture (see procedures below) will be administered first to obtain the de qi sensation. After de qi is obtained, the electroacupuncture unit will be connected to 1-3 pairs of acupoints. Current intensity used will be based on the tolerance of each patient. Needles with electrical stimulation will be retained for 30 min.~Main acupoints will be Jingjin points (meridian sinews) along the Bladder meridian of Foot - Taiyang, such as Shenshuci, as well as Jingjin points (meridian sinews) at transverse process from L2 to L4, iliac crest and spinous process from S1 to S4. Secondary acupoints will also be selected based on patients' syndromes and symptoms."

"After disinfecting the acupuncture points, acupuncture will be performed with the patient lying prone. Depending on the acupuncture points, 0.25mm X 25-75 mm sterile acupuncture needle will be used. Needles will be inserted 10-50 mm and either rotating manipulation or lifting-thrusting manipulation will be used to achieve de qi (a compositional sensation including soreness, numbness, distention and heaviness).~Acupoints used will be similar to those mentioned for electroacupuncture (see above)."