Some Neck Pain Relieved By Acupuncture

Bob Carroll

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There is evidence supporting the use of acupuncture for neck pain relief (but not cure).

Acupuncture Reduces Chronic Neck Pain; Massage Benefits Still Unclear

Acupuncture offers relief from chronic neck pain, while there is little reliable evidence on the effectiveness of massage, according to two new systematic reviews.

Acupuncture does not "cure" neck pain, and relief appears to last only a few weeks or months. Patients may thus need periodic booster treatments, says lead study author Kien Trinh, M.D., of McMaster University in Canada.

The massage review concludes, "Due to the limitations of existing studies, we are unable to make any firm statement to guide clinical practice." Bodhi Haraldsson, a registered massage therapist in British Columbia, Canada, led the study team.

The two studies are part of a series designed to summarize the most current scientific evidence on treatments for neck pain due to "mechanical" problems such as whiplash and muscle strains. Such injuries are common, disabling and costly.