Acupuncture vs. Massage for Insomnia and Pain in Advanced Cancer: Exploratory RCT.
J Pain Symptom ManageJul 18, 2026 (epub)
Eunbin Kwag, Rose W Y Fok, Qing S Li et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This multicenter randomized controlled trial compared acupuncture and massage therapy for treating insomnia in 234 patients with advanced cancer and baseline insomnia. Both interventions significantly improved insomnia severity scores at week 10, with no significant difference between groups (ISI reduction of -3.86 for acupuncture vs -3.83 for massage, P = 0.91).
Key findings
- Both acupuncture and massage improved insomnia severity scores at week 10 (ISI reduction of -3.86 and -3.83, respectively; both P < 0.0001).
- Responder rates for insomnia were similar: 35.1% for acupuncture and 33.3% for massage.
- Pain responder rates were higher for massage (62.9%) compared to acupuncture (48.0%).
- Insomnia responders showed greater reductions in pain at weeks 10 and 26 (both P < 0.0001).
Why it matters
The findings highlight the effectiveness of both acupuncture and massage in managing insomnia among patients with advanced cancer, a population often facing multiple symptoms. Understanding the interplay between sleep and pain can inform integrative treatment strategies.