Clinical Study on Electroacupuncture Therapy for Chronic Neck Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Purpose of this test is to observe and objectively evaluate electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on the clinical efficacy in patients with chronic neck pain, and provide a reliable clinical basis for the chronic neck pain treatment and evaluation of efficacy.

Detailed Description
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According to statistics, the incidence of chronic neck pain has significantly increased year by year, particularly tending to younger people, as social competition increase fiercely and the pace of people's daily work and life accelerate. Studying the effective treatment and prevention of chronic neck pain has obvious medical, social and economic significance. Purpose of this trial is to observe and objectively evaluate electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on the clinical efficacy in patients with chronic neck pain, and provide a reliable clinical basis for the chronic neck pain treatment and evaluation of efficacy.

Official Title
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Lu's Acupuncture Protocol for Chronic Neck Pain

Conditions
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Neck Pains

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: acupuncture
* Other: comprehensive treatment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age of a subject is older than 18 and is younger than 65. With more than 3 months history of neck pain. Informed consent is signed by a subject or his lineal relation. Exclusion Criteria: With serious protopathy or disease ofcardiovascular,liver,renal,gastrointestinal, hematological systems and so on. Psychotic，patients with allergic constitution or easily getting infected or bleeding. Patients have used drugs for preventing neck pain in the last four weeks. Pregnant women or women in lactation.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: acupuncture<br>56 patients (the EA group) receive the acupuncture treatment at nine acupuncture points: Dazhui (GV14), bilateral Jianzhongshu (SI15), bilateral Jingbailao (EX HN15), bilateral cervical Jiaji (EX-B2),and two trigger points.Bilateral Jianzhongshu (SI15) and Jiaji (EX-B2) receive the electro acupuncture treatment, with dilatational wave. All the needles retained for 20 minutes, one treatment every other day, 10 times a course, and the treatment assessed after a course. | Device: acupuncture<br>* 56 patients (the EA group) receive the acupuncture treatment at nine acupuncture points: Dazhui (GV14), bilateral Jianzhongshu (SI15), bilateral Jingbailao (EX HN15), bilateral Jiaji (EX-B2) of cervical positive reaction plane (taking two pairs). Besides, bilateral Jianzhongshu (SI15) and bilateral Jiaji (EX-B2) receive the electro acupuncture treatment, with dilatational wave. All the needles retained for 20 minutes, one treatment every other day, 10 times a course, and the treatment assessed after a course.<br>* Other names: electroacupuncture;|
| Other: comprehensive treatment<br>Other 56 patients (the matched group) receive the comprehensive treatment, including traction and TENS(Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) therapy. Each treatment 20 minutes, one treatment every other day, 10 times a course, and the treatment assessed after a course. | Other: comprehensive treatment<br>* Other 56 patients (the matched group) receive the comprehensive treatment, including traction and TENS therapy. Each treatment 20 minutes, one treatment every other day, 10 times a course, and the treatment assessed after a course.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| chronic neck pain-the Neck Pain Scale (NPQ) |  | 20 days(One course) | 
| the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire |  | 20 days(One course) | 
| the SF-36 Health Questionnaire combined with Neck Disability Index (NDI). |  | 20 days(one course) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| chronic neck pain-the Neck Pain Scale (NPQ) |  | one month after a course. | 
| the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire |  | one month after a course | 
| the SF-36 Health Questionnaire combined with Neck Disability Index (NDI). |  | one months after a course | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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electroacupuncture therapy, neck pain, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Acupuncture Therapy, Electroacupuncture, Meridians