Chronic muscle tension is a key factor in many pain disorders, leading to reduced blood flow, low oxygen levels in tissues, and the release of substances that cause inflammation. These changes can activate sensory nerves and trigger pain. Standard treatments such as anesthetics and anti-inflammatory drugs often focus on temporarily blocking pain or reducing inflammation but do not address the underlying muscle tension, which can result in recurring symptoms.
A recent study from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine examines Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN), a technique that combines traditional acupuncture with modern muscle science. The research was published in 2025 in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences (DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcms.2025.09.008). According to the study, FSN relaxes tight muscles, restores blood flow to affected areas, and prevents abnormal ATP release—a process linked to pain signaling.
The FSN method involves inserting a specialized needle into the layer just beneath the skin rather than deep into muscle tissue. Practitioners use a "swaying movement" with the needle to help release muscle tension mechanically. Clinical observations have shown that FSN can provide immediate relief for conditions like neck and shoulder stiffness, knee osteoarthritis, and some types of visceral pain.
The study highlights tightened muscle fibers as a primary cause of chronic pain due to their effect on nearby arteries and mitochondria—the energy-producing parts of cells—which leads to ATP leakage outside cells. This extracellular ATP then activates certain receptors on nerve endings, producing pain signals. By targeting this process at its source—muscle tension—FSN may interrupt pain transmission more effectively than conventional methods.
"We are shifting the understanding of pain from nerve-centered theories toward a muscle-centered model," said the study's author. "Chronic muscle tension is not simply a symptom but a driver of ischemia, cellular stress, and pain signaling. By addressing this muscular origin, FSN does not merely mask pain—it helps resolve it. Our goal is to encourage clinicians and researchers to view muscles as the key to many persistent pain disorders and to explore FSN as a scientifically grounded therapeutic approach."
FSN could be an option for patients who cannot tolerate medications or have not found relief through standard therapies because it avoids drug side effects and risks associated with deeper tissue procedures. The technique’s simplicity may allow for broader use in community clinics and rehabilitation centers.
The authors suggest further development of specialized tools for FSN practice, AI-assisted training programs for practitioners, and new clinical departments focused on myology—the study of muscles—to help standardize care.
By focusing treatment strategies on muscle physiology rather than only nerve pathways or pharmacological interventions, FSN may contribute to new ways of managing chronic musculoskeletal pain while reducing reliance on medication.
