Trial results for a feasibility study investigating acupuncture for pain in Long COVID patients were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-05-12. The study enrolled 93 participants to test methods for a future fully-powered trial.
Background
Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), encompasses a wide range of persistent symptoms that can last weeks, months, or even longer after the initial infection. Among these, chronic pain is a common and debilitating symptom, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Current management often involves symptom-specific treatments, but effective, non-pharmacological options are continually being explored. Acupuncture, a traditional integrative medicine approach, is being investigated as a potential intervention for pain relief in this patient population, warranting studies to assess its practical application and preliminary effects.
Trial design
This completed feasibility study, identified as Phase NA, enrolled 93 participants with Long COVID and Pain. The trial aimed to test the methods and procedures for a future fully-powered randomized clinical trial evaluating acupuncture treatment effectiveness. Participants were randomized to receive either acupuncture treatment or usual long COVID care. Researchers compared pain intensity and its impact on general activities over 5 months, with participants completing online surveys at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 20.
Key results
The trial collected data on pain intensity and its impact using the Pain, Enjoyment and General Activity (PEG) scale and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) Short Form. Key measurements included:
- Pain, Enjoyment and General Activity (PEG) Scale:
- At baseline (Week 0), the mean PEG score for the Acupuncture group was 6.74 (Standard Deviation 1.43), and for the Usual Care group, it was 6.74 (Standard Deviation 1.51).
- At Week 4, the mean PEG score for the Acupuncture group was 8.33 (Standard Deviation 2.08), and for the Usual Care group, it was 9.33 (Standard Deviation 1.91).
- At Week 8, the mean PEG score for the Acupuncture group was 4.95 (Standard Deviation 2.14), and for the Usual Care group, it was 6.03 (Standard Deviation 2.11).
- At Week 20, the mean PEG score for the Acupuncture group was 4.77 (Standard Deviation 2.22), and for the Usual Care group, it was 5.89 (Standard Deviation 1.97).
- Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) Short Form:
- At baseline (Week 0), the mean PCS score for the Acupuncture group was 12.37 (Standard Deviation 5.91), and for the Usual Care group, it was 12.62 (Standard Deviation 5.38).
- At Week 8, the mean PCS score for the Acupuncture group was 9.48 (Standard Deviation 5.81), and for the Usual Care group, it was 11.68 (Standard Deviation 5.96).
What this means
This feasibility study provides preliminary insights into the potential role of acupuncture for managing pain in patients with Long COVID. While designed to assess methods for a larger trial, the observed trends in key measurements suggest a potential benefit. Specifically, mean scores on the Pain, Enjoyment and General Activity (PEG) scale were lower in the acupuncture group compared to usual care at Weeks 8 and 20, indicating potentially reduced pain intensity and impact on daily activities. Similarly, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) Short Form showed lower mean scores in the acupuncture group at Week 8. These findings support the continued investigation of acupuncture as a supportive therapy for Long COVID-related pain in a fully-powered clinical trial.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT06476496, titled "Pain Relief With Integrative Medicine (PRIMe)?: Feasibility of Acupuncture for Long COVID", were posted on 2026-05-12 on clinicaltrials.gov.