Integrative research on the mechanisms of acupuncture mechanics and interdisciplinary innovation.

Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101147518 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1475-925X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 1475925X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Biomed Eng Online Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2002-

Acupuncture* ; Biomechanical Phenomena* ; Inventions* ; Interdisciplinary Research*; Acupuncture Points ; Dermis/physiology ; Subcutaneous Tissue/physiology ; Interdisciplinary Studies ; Humans ; Animals ; Mechanotransduction, Cellular

Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: All authors consent to publication. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interest.
As a traditional therapeutic approach, acupuncture benefits from modern biomechanics, which offers a unique perspective for understanding its mechanisms by investigating the mechanical properties of biological tissues and cells under force, deformation, and movement. This review summarizes recent advancements in the biomechanics of acupuncture, focusing on three main areas: the mechanical effects of acupuncture, the transmission mechanisms of mechanical signals, and the personalization and precision of acupuncture treatments. First, the review introduces the structural basis of the tissues involved in acupuncture; analyzes the mechanical responses of the skin, dermis, and subcutaneous tissues from needle insertion to point activation; and discusses how these responses impact acupuncture efficacy. Second, the phenomenon of mechanical coupling during acupuncture is discussed in detail, especially the role of connective tissues, including the wrapping and self-locking of collagen fibers, the remodeling of the cytoskeleton and the regulation of mitochondrial function triggered by acupuncture. Third, this article examines the mechanisms of mechanical signal transmission in acupuncture, explaining how mechanosensitive ion channels are activated during the procedure and subsequently initiate a cascade of biochemical responses. Finally, the review highlights the numerical simulation methods used in acupuncture, including the mechanical modeling of skin tissues, the exploration of the mechanical mechanisms of acupuncture, and visualization studies of the needling process. By integrating multidisciplinary research findings, this paper delves into the entire mechanical process of acupuncture, from skin penetration to point stimulation, and analyzes tissue responses to provide a solid theoretical foundation for the scientific study of acupuncture. In addition, directions for future research to further refine acupuncture techniques for clinical applications are proposed.
(© 2025. The Author(s).)

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Keywords: Acupuncture; Mechanical signaling; Numerical simulation; Skin

Date Created: 20250307 Date Completed: 20250725 Latest Revision: 20250725

20250727

PMC11889876

10.1186/s12938-025-01357-w

40055719