Acupuncture for treating constipation in Parkinson's disease

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease Related Constipation

Not applicable Interventional Xi'an No.3 Hospital · NCT06390761

This study is testing if acupuncture can help people with Parkinson's disease who have constipation feel better by increasing their bowel movements.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages35 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorXi'an No.3 Hospital Government
Locations1 site (Xi'an, Shaanxi)
Trial IDNCT06390761 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of acupuncture in alleviating constipation associated with Parkinson's disease. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an acupuncture group or a sham acupuncture group, with specific acupoints targeted for treatment. The primary outcome measure will be the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) recorded over a specified period. Additional assessments will include colonic transit time and anorectal manometry to evaluate gastrointestinal function. The study aims to provide insights into the potential benefits of acupuncture for non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 35 to 80 with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and functional constipation.

Not a fit: Patients with organic gastrointestinal lesions or those who have undergone relevant abdominal or anorectal surgeries may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve bowel function and quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease-related constipation.

How similar studies have performed: While acupuncture has been explored in various contexts, this specific application for Parkinson's disease-related constipation is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. A diagnosis of PD (according to the Movement Disorder Society's revised clinical diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease in 2015) and functional constipation (according to the Rome IV diagnostic criteria) ;
2. Age between 35 and 80 years;
3. Hoehn-Yahr grade ≤ 3;
4. No medications taken within 2 weeks that may affect gastrointestinal function (such as prucalopride and probiotics);
5. No anticipation in other clinical trials within 1 month;
6. Voluntary engagement in this study, ability to sign the informed consent, and cooperation in the completion of the bowel diary and scale filling.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Organic lesions of the digestive system (such as intestinal adhesions, obstructions, tumors, or malformations in the gastrointestinal tract);
2. A history of abdominal or anorectal surgery that may affect intestinal transit, systemic diseases that may affect the dynamics of the digestive tract (such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism);
3. Serious life-threatening diseases (such as severe cardiovascular diseases and malignant tumors);
4. Skin lesions that were inappropriate for needling, the viscose allergy that prevented acupuncture device attachment;
5. Pregnant or lactating women.

Where this trial is running

Xi'an, Shaanxi

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Parkinson DiseaseConstipationNon-motor SymptomRandomized Controlled Trial
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.