The Effectiveness of Battlefield Acupuncture in Addition to Standard Physical Therapy Treatment after Shoulder Surgery: A Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial — Trials Journal

Crowell, MS; Brindle, RA; Mason, JS; Pitt, WJ; Miller, EM; Posner, MA; Cameron, KL; Goss, DL

There is a large incidence of shoulder instability among active young athletes and military personnel. Shoulder stabilization surgery is the commonly employed intervention for treating individuals with instability. Following surgery, a substantial proportion of individuals experience acute post-operative pain, which is usually managed with opioid pain medications. Unfortunately, the extended use of opioid medications can have adverse effects that impair function and reduce military operational readiness, but there are currently few alternatives. However, Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) is a minimally invasive therapy demonstrating promise as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for managing acute post-operative pain.

Crowell, M., Brindle, R., Mason, J., Pitt, W., Miller, E., Posner, M., Cameron, K., & Goss, D. (2020). The effectiveness of battlefield acupuncture in addition to standard physical therapy treatment after shoulder surgery: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial. Trials. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04909-8