An experimental study on the effectiveness of acupressure with aromatic lavender essential oil for sub-acute, non-specific neck pain in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of acupressure using an aromatic essential oil (lavender) as an add-on treatment for pain relief and enhancing physical functional activities among adults with sub-acute non-specific neck pain.


METHODS
Experimental study design.


METHODS
The Telehealth clinic and the community centre, Hong Kong.


METHODS
A course of 8-session manual acupressure with lavender oil over a 3 week period.


METHODS
Changes from baseline to the end of treatment were assessed on neck pain intensity [by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)]; stiffness level; stress level; neck lateral flexion, forward flexion and extension in cm, and interference with daily activities.


RESULTS
The baseline VAS score for the intervention and control groups were 5.12 and 4.91 out of 10, respectively (P = 0.72). One month after the end of treatment, compared to the control group, the manual acupressure group had 23% reduced pain intensity (P = 0.02), 23% reduced neck stiffness (P = 0.001), 39% reduced stress level (P = 0.0001), improved neck flexion (P = 0.02), neck lateral flexion (P = 0.02), and neck extension (P = 0.01). However, improvements in functional disability level were found in both the manual acupressure group (P = 0.001) and control group (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that eight sessions of acupressure with aromatic lavender oil were an effective method for short-term neck pain relief.
Yip
Y B
YB
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, PR China. hsvyip@inet.polyu.edu.hk
Tse
Sonny Hing-Min
SH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D019050:Acupressure / Q000379:methods*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D015982:Bias; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D027523:Lavandula; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C045718:lavender oil