Prospective

Professor Yuanqi GUO

School of Chinese Medicine, 1/F Sino Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, N.T., Hong Kong

(852) 3943 8131 / (852) 2479 2126

cuguoyq@yahoo.com.hk

School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Professor Yuanqi GUO

School of Chinese Medicine, 1/F Sino Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, N.T., Hong Kong

(852) 3943 8131 / (852) 2479 2126

cuguoyq@yahoo.com.hk

School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

腹針治療頸痛的臨床隨機對照研究

Yes

2014-01-21

Other

Abdominal Acupuncture

Abdominal acupuncture treatment under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture meridian theory and new concepts developed by Dr Ziyun Bo

Three times a week for two weeks

Sham abdominal acupuncture treatment

* Between 18 and 65 years of age with the ability to speak and understand Cantonese;
* Neck complaints on: (i) pain, stiffness or tenderness, with or without musculoskeletal signs including decreased range of motion and point tenderness; (ii) pain felt in the neck with radiation to the occiput or towards the shoulders, or both with limitation of neck motion; and (iii) neck pain with degenerative joint disease or cervical spondylosis, or both;
* 3 points or more on a 10-cm visual analogue scale for neck pain at the time of screening;
* No previous treatment with abdominal acupuncture for any reason;
* Agreed to be randomized; and
* Agreed to sign the informed consent form

* Visceral pain in the neck, including carcinoma of thyroid or larynx and tuberculosis of larynx;
* Serious spinal disorders, including malignancy, vertebral fracture, spinal infection and inflammatory spondylitis;
* Patients who previously had neck surgery or are scheduled to have one during the study;
* Other chronic diseases that could interfere with abdominal acupuncture treatment effects, including cardiovascular disease, diabetic neuropathy, active hepatitis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and epilepsy;
* Diagnosis of cancer of any nature;
* Chief musculoskeletal pain other than neck pain;
* Conditions that abdominal acupuncture might not be safe, including clotting disorders, administration of an anticoagulant agent, acute abdominal disorders, venous dilation of the naval, celiac tumor and pregnant women;
* Possess abdominal scar which will affect the proper selection of acupuncture points for abdominal acupuncture;
* Severe psychiatric or psychological disorder;
* Acupuncture treatment for neck pain during the previous month;
* Conflicting or ongoing co-interventions (drugs or alternative treatments, or both);
* Engage in any other clinical trial during the study period;
* Pending neck-related litigation or disability claims;
* Incapacity to complete the questionnaires or to answer the questions of the assessor in the study; and
* Pregnant and breast feeding women

18 years old

65 years old

Both Male and Female

Randomized

Placebo

Double-blind

Parallel

No

Yes

Nil