Acupuncture Neck Pain Finding

Acupuncture is effective for the alleviation of neck pain due to cervical spondylosis, a disorder caused by intervertebral disc degeneration. Researchers determined that electroacupuncture provides optimal therapeutic results when compared with manual acupuncture. Electroacupuncture produced a 96.67% total effective rate and manual acupuncture produced an 86.7% total effective rate.

After completion of all acupuncture treatments, 18 patients in the electroacupuncture group were completely asymptomatic and their neck and limb functions restored to normal. An additional 11 patients had a significant reduction of symptoms and improvements of neck and limb functions. One patient did not have any improvements, yielding the total effective rate of 96.67%.

The researchers focused on the use of Huatuojiaji points and compared identical acupuncture treatments, with the exception of one parameter. Electroacupuncture was added in one group and only manual acupuncture was applied in the other. Each group was subdivided into three diagnostic parameters: cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, cervical spondylotic myelopathy, vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis. Specific acupuncture point prescriptions were formulated for each subgroup.

Subgroup Differentiation
Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, occurs when nerves are impinged and there is subsequent pain, numbness, or weakness. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy involves compression of the spinal cord; there is often numbness, tingling extending through the arms, weakness, balance issues, vertigo, loss of motor skills, pain, and stiffness. Vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis indicates that the degenerative process has affected the vertebral artery and there is often dizziness or even blackouts when turning or bending the neck.