Treatment of Neck Pain Using Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA)

Abstract

Abstract

Background:

Cervical pain can be defined as a painful condition of the upper region of the spinal column affecting the neck and shoulders. The conservative treatment for uncomplicated neck pain includes physical and pharmacological measures, together with the provision of advice and manual treatment such as mobilization and manipulation.

Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of scalp acupuncture in the treatment of neck pain.

Design and Setting:

We studied patients with neck pain between June 2007 and January 2008 at Pain Service, San Luca Hospital, Trecenta (Rovigo), Italy. A prospective questionnaire using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Present Pain Index (PPI) was administered.

Patients:

We treated 46 patients (29 women and 17 men) with neck pain. Among them were 25 patients with osteoarthritis diagnosed by radiological examination and 21 patients with myofascial pain syndrome.

Intervention:

Patients were treated with only 1 session of Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) in the Basic Points A 1–7.

Main Outcome Measures:

Level of pain at 30 minutes after the session, evaluated with the VAS and PPI.

Results:

The degree of reduction of pain was 71% when evaluated with the VAS and 80% with PPI.

Conclusions:

YNSA acupuncture was effective in the reduction of neck pain for this group of patients, with only 1 needle in a single session.