ACUPUNCTURE FOR NECK PAIN
June 27th, 2008
Neck pain is a common condition that can interfere with a person’s daily activities. Often, neck pain is due to nonspecific problems with the muscles, tendons and bones of the neck. Treatments for neck pain include medications to reduce pain and inflammation and physical therapy or exercise to improve neck movement.
However, these treatments are not always effective in the management of neck pain and may have side effects. Consequently, many people with neck pain seek alternative treatments, such as acupuncture. Although there is no cure for the musculoskeletal system disorder, acupuncture is effective in the treatment of acute and chronic neck pain.
Acupressure and herbal medicine are sometimes used in conjunction with acupuncture for neck pain. Applying acupressure to the neck muscles can reduce pain and enhance well being. Depending on the condition, Chinese herbal formulas may be utilized to improve circulation and blood flow and ease muscle contraction.
Neck pain is one of the three most frequently reported complaints of the musculoskeletal system. In many cases, x-rays do not show anything visibly wrong with the neck, suggesting that the condition is a relatively subtle one involving soft tissues. Mild neck pain can be aggravated by poor posture and body mechanics. Severe neck pain may be caused by structural and degenerative conditions that affect the spinal cord and the nerves in the neck.
It is unclear that any conventional therapy, when used as a stand-alone modality, speeds recovery or produces long term benefits. For some individuals, acupuncture may be the best treatment, while different combined therapies may work best for others. Your acupuncture physician may recommend acupuncture treatment in conjunction with other therapies such as Chinese herbal medicine, exercise and physical therapy.
Acupuncture is effective in treating neck disorders due to muscle strain and other “mechanical” causes. For chronic neck disorders with radicular symptoms (pain radiating to the arms) there is evidence that acupuncture is effective for pain management. A benefit of acupuncture is that it is a drug-free way to minimize pain.
Acupuncture increases blood flow, lymph and nerve impulses to affected areas, enhancing health, recovery and vitality. According to a recent systematic review of research literature completed by a group of Canadian Cochrane review authors, there is evidence that acupuncture is effective in treating neck disorders.
The review was designed to summarize current scientific evidence on treatments for neck disorders due to whiplash, muscle strain and other “mechanical” causes and included 10 trials (661 participants) that examined the effects of acupuncture on chronic neck pain (lasting at least three months).
One study included individuals with neck pain that lasted for at least six weeks but was considered chronic. Some trials compared acupuncture to sham acupuncture, waiting list or other sham treatments (sham laser) while others compared acupuncture to other treatments (mobilization, traction, massage). Most of the studies included at least five treatment sessions.
The authors concluded that for chronic mechanical neck disorders, there was evidence that acupuncture was more effective for pain relief measured immediately post-treatment and at short-term follow-up when compared to some sham controls (laser, acupuncture needles placed in the wrong acupoints). “The specific effects of acupuncture have important clinical treatment benefits,” the review authors concluded.
Some alternative therapies such as acupuncture, neck manipulation and massage are better choices for managing most common neck pain than many current practices.
For more information about acupuncture for neck pain call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
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