Effectiveness of Pharmacopuncture for Chronic Neck Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In this study, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacopuncture therapy for chronic neck pain compared to physical therapy.

Detailed Description
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This study is prgmatic RCT of pharmacopuncture therapy for chronic neck pain compared to physical therapy.

Official Title
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A Study on the Effectiveness of Pharmacopuncture for Chronic Neck Pain: A Protocol for a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Chronic Neck Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: pharmacopuncture therapy
* Procedure: Physical therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Neck pain more than 6 months VAS of neck pain more than 5 Age between 17 and 70 years old Participants who wrote informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Migration of cancer reaching to spine, fracture of spine Progressive neurologic deficits or severe neurologic deficits Cancer, fibromyalgia, RA, or goat Stroke, MI, kidney disease, dimentia, diabetic neuropathy, or epilepsy Participants taking steroid, immunosuppressant, or psychotropic medication Hemorrhagic disease, severe diabetes or taking anticoagulant drug Participants who took NSAIDs or pharmacopuncture within 1 week Pregnant or lactating women Participants who had undergone cervical surgery within 3 months Participants who had participated in other clinical trial within 1 month, or have plan for participation in other trial during follow up period of this trial Participants who can not write informed consent Participants who is difficult to participate in the trial according to investigator's decision

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 19 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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: pharmacopuncture therapy<br>The physicians will select one or more pharmacopuncture therapy for each participants. The physicians will also decide dosage and frequency of treatment according to the participant's status. | Procedure: pharmacopuncture therapy<br>* The participants in the treatment group will be receive one or more pharmacopuncture therapy according to the physician's decision.<br>|
| Active Comparator: physical therapy<br>The physicians will select one or more physical therapy for each participants. The physicians will also decide intensity and frequency of treatment according to the participant's status. | Procedure: Physical therapy<br>* The participants in the control group will be receive one or more physical therapy according to the physician's decision.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visual analogue scale of neck pain | Minimum 0, Maximum 100. Higher values represent a worse outcome | week 6 |