We as a society may crack jokes about certain things being a pain in the neck, but chronic neck pain is no laughing matter for those who have it. The ongoing pain can leave them feeling stiff, with limited range of motion, muscle tightness, headaches, and more. It’s an uncomfortable condition that leads those who have to try various things to help bring relief. Some people turn to acupuncture to see if the Chinese medicine treatment can help. A new study has put it to the test.
New research published in the September 2024 issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine reports the findings from a 24-week study on using individualized acupuncture to help with chronic neck pain [1]. The study may be of interest to those considering getting acupuncture for chronic neck pain and those who help people who suffer from the condition.
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The study included 716 people who suffer from chronic neck pain. The participants were split into groups that included a wait list, a placebo group, and two groups of people who were receiving acupuncture. The two groups receiving the acupuncture treatments were divided by those receiving treatment for higher and lower sensitive acupoints. The participants received their respective treatments in the study at an outpatient clinical center. Their pain was measured at the beginning of the study, as well as every four weeks, to see if there were any changes in the neck pain they were experiencing.
The researchers found that those who received either the higher or lower sensitive acupoint treatment experienced some relief from neck pain compared to those who were on the wait list or were in the sham group. However, the researchers concluded that the magnitude of improvement did not reach a clinically important difference. This may make many people reconsider getting acupuncture for chronic neck pain.
Those who have chronic neck pain may still be interested in trying acupuncture to see if it helps their situation. For some people, it may be better than doing nothing at all, but it may not lead to the type of relief that will make a meaningful difference. Those opting to try it should seek a qualified and certified practitioner with experience working with those with neck pain. Seek recommendations and referrals, and review the person’s credentials, techniques, and experience.
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This article was originally published on Confronting Chronic Pain by Dr. Steven Richeimer, Director Pain Medicine and Pain Science Certificates.
Sources:
- Annals of Internal Medicine. Long-Term Effects of Individualized Acupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain. September 2024.
