研究對象是美國人，31位初次參與為時十二週肺復健班的COPD病人。本研究係單 盲、前後測、交叉臨床實驗法 (cross-over design)，隨機分派研究對象至兩組。第一組研 究對象點壓對稱的七個穴位，每日一次，共點壓六週，然後再點壓假的穴位六週。第二組研 究對象則相反，先作假的，再作真的穴位點壓各六週。研究者於第一、六、十二週時，使用 六個工具評估病人的呼吸困難程度、其他症狀、活動耐受度、肺功能、與功能性能力。研究 結果顯示，在緩解呼吸困難程度，用視覺類比量表測得的分數，真的穴位點壓後比假的穴位 點壓後改善 8.54 個單位。 將此結果與前測的平均值 (58.48 單位 ) 比較， 表示改善 14.6%。 在其他變項上，真假穴位點壓後的差異很小或者未達統計上顯著意義。穴位點壓可 以作為 COPD 病人在肺復健班的補充治療，以緩解呼吸困難程度。某些對於傳統中醫學不熟 悉的病人能夠學會穴位點壓，並且實施自我穴位點壓照顧自己。

　　　　　Subject were Americans, 31 new COPD patients beginning a 12-week pulmonary rebabilitation program. A single-blind pretest-posttest, cross-over design was used, with each subject randomly assigned to one of two groups. Subjects in Group 1 practiced acupressure at seven bilateral acupoints daily for six weeks, followed by six weeks of sham acupressure(a placebo, in which non-acupoints were used). For Group 2, the order of interventions was reversed. During weeks 1,6, and 12, six instruments were administered to assess subject dyspnea, other symptoms, activity tolerance, lung function, and functional exercise capacity. The score after real acupressure was 8.54 units (95% confidence interval=1.60, 15.48) better than the score after sham acupressure for reducing dyspnea as measured by a visual analog scale(P=.009, one-tailed). this represents a 14.6% improvement in outcome, when compared with a mean baseline score of 58.48 units. differences in effect of real and sham acupressure for other variables were either minimal or not statistically significant. Acupressure appears to be useful to COPD patients as an adjunct to their pulmonary rehabilitation program for relief of dyspnea. Some persons who are not initially familiar with traditional Chinese medicine can learn and will accept self-administered acupressure as part of their self-care.