Dominik Irnich
a Department of Anaesthesiology,
Ludwig-Maximilians University, 81377 Munich, Germany, b Department
of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ludwig-Maximilians University, c Biometric
Center for Therapeutic Studies, 80336 Munich, Germany, d Department
of Orthopaedics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany, e Reha
Klinik Bellikon, 5454 Bellikon, Switzerland
Correspondence to: D Irnich [log in to unmask]
Objectives: To compare the efficacy of acupuncture
and conventional massage for the treatment of chronic neck pain.
Design: Prospective, randomised,
placebo controlled trial.
Setting: Three outpatient
departments in Germany.
Participants: 177 patients aged
18-85 years with chronic neck pain.
Interventions: Patients were
randomly allocated to five treatments over three weeks with
acupuncture (56), massage (60), or "sham" laser
acupuncture (61).
Main outcome measures: Primary
outcome measure: maximum pain related to motion (visual analogue
scale) irrespective of direction of movement one week after
treatment. Secondary outcome measures: range of motion (3D
ultrasound real time motion analyser), pain related to movement in
six directions (visual analogue scale), pressure pain threshold
(pressure algometer), changes of spontaneous pain, motion related
pain, global complaints (seven point scale), and quality of life
(SF-36). Assessments were performed before, during, and one week and
three months after treatment. Patients' beliefs in treatment were
assessed.
Results: One week after five
treatments the acupuncture group showed a significantly greater
improvement in motion related pain compared with massage (difference
24.22 (95% confidence interval 16.5 to 31.9), P=0.0052)
but not compared with sham laser (17.28 (10.0 to 24.6),
P=0.327). Differences between acupuncture and massage or sham laser
were greater in the subgroup who had had pain for longer than five
years (n=75) and in patients with myofascial pain syndrome (n=129).
The acupuncture group had the best results in most secondary outcome
measures. There were no differences in patients' beliefs in treatment.
Conclusions: Acupuncture is an
effective short term treatment for patients with chronic neck pain,
but there is only limited evidence for long term effects after five
treatments.
Edward E.
Rylander, M.D.
Diplomat American
Board of Family Practice.
Diplomat American
Board of Palliative Medicine.