A comparison of the Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Ultrasound Treatment in Patients with Neck Pain from Myofascial Pain of the Upper Trapezius: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Suwimon Sangiamsak

Authors

Suwimon Sangiamsak Rayong Hospital, Rayong, Thailand

Keywords:

acupuncture, ultrasound, neck pain, myofascial pain syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of acupuncture and ultrasound treatment in patients with neck pain from myofascial pain of the upper trapezius

Study design: A randomized controlled trial

Setting: Rayong Hospital, Thailand

participant: Patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius muscle.

Methods: Sixty patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius muscle were enrolled. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group which received acupuncture treatment at points GB20, SI11, DU14, SI15, GB21, and EX-HN15, along with electrical stimulation. The acupuncture points were stimulated in pairs: GB20 with EX-HN15 and GB21 with SI11. Continuous wave electrical stimulation was applied at a tolerable current level for 25 minutes. The thirty patients in the control group were treated with ultrasound diathermy using a Sonopuls 190 at a frequency of 1 MHz and an intensity of 0.8-1 watts/sq cm. Treatment duration was 5-10 minutes. Both groups received treatment twice a week for a total of four weeks. The outcome measures were the numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Thai version of the Neck Disability Index (Thai-NDI) scores, assessed before the intervention and at week 4 following treatment.

Results: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the two groups. Following treatment, mean pain scores decreased from 7.13 (SD = 1.36) to 3.43 (SD = 1.72) in the acupuncture group and from 7.17 (SD = 1.42) to 4.50 (SD = 2.30) in the ultrasound therapy group. The between-group difference was statistically significant (p = 0.046). Both groups showed reductions in Thai-NDI mean scores after treatment, from 18.90 (SD = 7.19) to 10.10 (SD = 6.25) and from 21.70 (SD = 6.93) to 12.77 (SD = 6.40) in the experimental and control groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference observed between the two groups.

Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment demonstrated positive effects as shown by lower post-treatment pain scores (NRS). Therefore, it can be considered an appropriate method for the management of myofascial pain of the upper trapezius muscle.

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