The acupuncture treatment of neck pain: a randomized controlled study.
Thirty patients with cervical spine pain syndromes persisting a mean of 8 years were assigned randomly into equal treatment and control groups. After 12 weeks, 12 of 15 (80%) of the treated group felt improved, some dramatically, with a mean 40% reduction of pain score, 54% reduction of pain pills, 68% reduction of pain hours per day and 32% less limitation of activity. Two of 15 (13%) of the control group reported slight improvement after 12.8 weeks. The control group had a mean 2% worsening of the pain score, 10% reduction in pain pills, no lessening of pain hours and 12% less limitation of activity.
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D059408:Pain Management; D011897:Random Allocation