Neck Pain
There has been little research on the effect of acupuncture on neck pain, a common complaint especially in those who spend many hours a day in from of a computer terminal. However, my experience is that acupuncture usually helps and that most patients appear to get significant pain relief after only a few treatments.
The little research that has been done is encouraging.1 Neck pain is a problem that is particularly amenable to western 'trigger point' acupuncture rather than traditional Chinese acupuncture.2
Acupuncture works at least as well as physiotherapy for chronic neck pain, and possibly slightly better than physiotherapy if pain is particularly bad.3
The little research that has been done is encouraging.1 Neck pain is a problem that is particularly amenable to western 'trigger point' acupuncture rather than traditional Chinese acupuncture.2
Acupuncture works at least as well as physiotherapy for chronic neck pain, and possibly slightly better than physiotherapy if pain is particularly bad.3
1. Irnich D et al. Randomised trial of acupuncture compared with massage and "sham" laser acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain. BMJ 2001; 322: 1-6
2. Itoh K et al. Randomised trial of trigger point acupuncture compared with other acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2007; 15:172-9.
3. David J et al. Chronic neck pain: a comparison of acupuncture treatment and physiotherapy. British Journal of Rheumatology 1998; 37: 1118-1122.
2. Itoh K et al. Randomised trial of trigger point acupuncture compared with other acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2007; 15:172-9.
3. David J et al. Chronic neck pain: a comparison of acupuncture treatment and physiotherapy. British Journal of Rheumatology 1998; 37: 1118-1122.