Acupuncture across the perioperative chronic pain pathway: A precision-medicine perspective

Acupuncture originates from traditional Chinese medicine. It is a needling therapy based on meridians and the flow of qi and blood. Since the 20th century, both manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture have been increasingly incorporated into biomedical research and clinical pain management. Pain relief has become a major concern for perioperative patients. Many surgical patients already have chronic musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, headache, or cancer-related pain before surgery. They may also have anxiety, sleep disturbances, functional limitations, and long-term analgesic use. Together, these factors can complicate acute postoperative pain control, slow recovery, and increase the risk of persistent postsurgical pain. Therefore, perioperative care requires interventions that address pre-existing pain and promote postoperative recovery.