Personalized ear acupressure to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain in rural adults
Official title: Personalized Auricular Point Acupressure for Chronic Pain Self-Management in Rural Populations
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11381463 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project teaches rural adults with long-standing musculoskeletal pain to use a personalized ear-acupressure program with a smartphone app so they can manage pain themselves.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $5,982,014 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3AT012728-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381463 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older living in rural areas with chronic musculoskeletal pain who have limited access to specialty pain care and can use a smartphone and follow-up visits are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with pain from non-musculoskeletal causes, those unable to use a smartphone or perform self-administered acupressure, or those needing immediate medical/surgical pain interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
As a participant you would be taught how to self-administer auricular point acupressure (small seeds or pressure on ear points) and use a smartphone app that guides practice and tracks symptoms. The team will roll out the program in rural clinics and communities in Texas and South Carolina and collect regular self-reported pain and function data through the app. The approach uses real-time symptom prompts (ecological momentary assessment) so you can monitor progress and clinicians can track program reach and adherence. This phase focuses on integrating the app-based self-management program into existing rural health services and refining how it is delivered.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower pain levels, improve daily function, and make accessible self-care options for rural people who lack specialty pain services.
How similar studies have gone: Prior smaller trials by this team have shown that auricular point acupressure and their smartphone app can reduce pain intensity and interference and improve function, though large-scale rural implementation is newer.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kawi, Jennifer — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Kawi, Jennifer
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.