Fig. 1

Flowchart of the procedure through the trial. The randomized controlled trial will enroll 86 eligible patients and divide them randomly into two groups at a 1:1 ratio. Twenty patients from each group will be randomly selected for MRI data collection. During the 2-week treatment, the patient will receive 6 acupuncture treatments. Clinical assessment will be performed at 4 time points: baseline, end of treatment, and 6 and 14 weeks after completion. The MRI scans will be performed at baseline and after treatment. Abbreviations: MRI magnetic resonance imaging