Comparison of Manual Acupuncture at Distal Acupoints Versus Electroacupuncture at Local Acupoints in Patients With Acute Neck Pain Due to Cervical Spondylosis

NCT ID: NCT07240623

Last Updated: 2025-11-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 124 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-09-25
• Study Completion Date: 2025-05-15

Brief Summary

This study is a randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial involving two groups: manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture, with 62 participants in each group. All participants received treatment once daily for 10 consecutive days, combined with at least 10 minutes of active cervical spine exercises per session.

Participants were allowed to take one 500 mg tablet of paracetamol if the pain exceeded their tolerance threshold, with a minimum interval of 6 hours between doses and a maximum daily dose of 1,500 mg. The number of tablets taken each day was recorded. No other analgesic interventions were permitted during the study period.

The objective of this study was to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of the two interventions in improving pain intensity (VAS score) and limitations of cervical range of motion after each treatment session. In addition, adverse events were monitored and recorded after every intervention.

Conditions

Cervical Spondylosis; Acute Neck Pain; Neck Pain Musculoskeletal; Degenerative Cervical Spine

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Manual Acupuncture

Participants receive manual acupuncture at distal acupoints (SI3, SI5, TE4, BL60, BL62, GB40) on the contralateral side of the painful neck area for 25 minutes. During needle retention, patients perform active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Manual acupuncture at distal acupoints

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Manual acupuncture applied for 25 minutes at distal acupoints selected based on meridian diagnosis (SI3, SI5, TE4, BL60, BL62, GB40) on the contralateral side of the pain. During needle retention, participants performed active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.

Electroacupuncture

Participants receive electroacupuncture for 25 minutes at local acupoints (GB20-SI15 and GB21-LU7) on the painful side. After needle removal, patients perform active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Electroacupuncture at local acupoints

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Electroacupuncture applied for 25 minutes at local acupoints (GB20-SI15 and GB21-LU7) on the painful side. After needle removal, participants performed active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.

Interventions

Manual acupuncture at distal acupoints

Manual acupuncture applied for 25 minutes at distal acupoints selected based on meridian diagnosis (SI3, SI5, TE4, BL60, BL62, GB40) on the contralateral side of the pain. During needle retention, participants performed active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Electroacupuncture at local acupoints

Electroacupuncture applied for 25 minutes at local acupoints (GB20-SI15 and GB21-LU7) on the painful side. After needle removal, participants performed active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

Manual acupuncture; Distal acupoints; Electroacupuncture; Local acupoints

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Acute onset of neck pain lasting less than 6 weeks.
• Pain intensity ≥ 50 mm on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
• Presence of limitation in at least one cervical range of motion (ROM).
• Radiographic diagnosis of cervical spondylosis based on Kellgren and Lawrence criteria.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with infection, cachexia, or psychiatric disorders.
• Currently using analgesic medication.
• Cervical movement limitation persisting for more than 6 weeks.
• History of or indication for cervical spine surgery.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

School of Medicine - Vietnam National University at Ho Chi Minh city

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Nguyen Ky Xuan Nhi

Medical Specialist

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Traditional Medicine Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, Xuan Hoa Ward, Vietnam

Countries

Vietnam

Other Identifiers

IRB No. IRB-VN01002

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

3836/QĐ-ĐHYD

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id