A comparative study of the effectiveness of acupuncture between tender points and Lie-Que points for relieving neck muscle pain

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture is a widely recognized and efficacious pain management technique that is well-suited to address the prevalent issue of occupational neck pain in working adults, particularly those working in high-pressure office settings with prolonged computer use. Acupuncture is also a cost-effective treatment and can alleviate the associated financial burden on individuals with neck muscle pain.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness between two groups of acupuncture points used to relieve neck muscle pain: tender points versus Lie-Que points.

Method: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of acupuncture at tender points and Lie-Que points, for the treatment of neck pain in working adults aged 15-65 years. A total of 40 participants were recruited from the Chinese Medicine Clinic at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University. Participants were randomly split into two groups of 20 participants each. One group underwent tender points acupuncture treatment, while a second group received Lie-Que points acupuncture. Pain scores were measured before and after treatment using the independent t-test and paired t-test.

Results: A pain score questionnaire was used to assess the results. In the group of patients who received acupuncture at tender points, the average level of pain before treatment was (mean±S.D. = 6.75±1.33), and the average level of pain after treatment was (mean±S.D. = 1.9±0.79). The hypothesis testing results revealed a significant difference in the average pain levels before and after treatment (p<0.05), with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 4.39 to 5.31. In contrast, patients who received acupuncture at Lie-Que points had an average level of pain before treatment of (mean±S.D. = 6.55±1.36), and an average level of pain after treatment of (mean±S.D. = 3.75±1.12). The hypothesis testing results showed a significant difference in the average pain levels before and after treatment (p<0.05), with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 2.38 to 3.22. When comparing the differences in pain levels before and after treatment between the two group of patients, it was found that the average difference in pain levels before and after treatment in the tender points group was (mean±S.D. = 4.85±0.99), while the average difference in pain levels before and after treatment in the Lie-Que point group was (mean±S.D. = 2.8±0.89). The hypothesis testing results indicated a statistically significant reduction in pain levels before and after treatment in the group of patients who received acupuncture at tender points, compared to the group who received acupuncture at Lie-Que points (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Acupuncture at tender points and Lie-Que points were both effective in relieving work-related neck muscle pain. However, acupuncture at tender points was significantly more effective than acupuncture at Lie-Que points in reducing pain. Therefore, it can be concluded that acupuncture at tender points is a more effective treatment for occupational neck muscle pain than acupuncture at Lie-Que points.