Acupuncture did not lower stress-related cortisol levels in women with voice injuries, challenging its use for reducing emotional stress in this group.
The study used a prospective randomized placebo-controlled design involving women with voice injuries caused by vocal strain. Participants received either genuine acupuncture or sham acupuncture at the same treatment points during a single treatment session. Saliva was collected repeatedly before, during, and after needling to measure cortisol, a biological indicator associated with stress.
Cortisol concentrations did not decrease following genuine acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture. The findings indicate that, under the conditions tested, acupuncture did not appear to reduce emotional stress in women experiencing voice disorders related to phonotrauma.
