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Immediate Effect of Acupuncture on Electromyographic Activity of the Upper Trapezius Muscle and Pain in Patients With Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized, Single‐Blinded, Sham‐Controlled, Crossover Study

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Objective The objective of this study was to assess changes in upper trapezius myoelectric activity and pain in patients with nonspecific neck pain after a single session of acupuncture (ACP).… Click to show full abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to assess changes in upper trapezius myoelectric activity and pain in patients with nonspecific neck pain after a single session of acupuncture (ACP). Methods A blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted. Fifteen patients with nonspecific neck pain and 15 healthy participants were enrolled in a randomized, single‐blinded, crossover study. Each participant was subjected to a single session of ACP and sham acupuncture (SACP). The electromyography (EMG) signal of the upper trapezius muscle was recorded during different step contractions of shoulder elevation force (15%‐30% maximal voluntary contraction) before and after ACP treatment. Results Significant effects were confirmed after the treatment (ACP and SACP) for Numeric Rating Scale scores (F1,28 = 51.61; P < .0001) and pain area (F1,2 = 32.03; P < .0001). Significant decreases in the EMG amplitude were identified for the nonspecific neck pain group (NPG) (F1,112 = 26.82; P < .0001) and the healthy participant group (HPG) (F1,112 = 21.69; P < .0001) after ACP treatment. No differences were identified between the ACP and SACP treatment protocols for Numeric Rating Scale score (NPG: F1,28 = 0.95; P = .33), pain area (NPG: F1,28 = 1.97; P = .17), or EMG amplitude (NPG: F1,112 = 0.47; P = .49; HPG: F1,112 = 0.75; P = .38). Conclusion The effect of ACP at acupoints triple energizer 5 and large intestine 11 triple energizer 5, or in close proximity, contributes to pain relief among patients with nonspecific neck pain. The electromyographic analysis indicated a greater resistance to muscle fatigue and decrease of activity of the upper trapezius muscle among healthy participants and patients with nonspecific neck pain.

Keywords: nonspecific neck; patients nonspecific; neck pain; upper trapezius

Journal Title: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Year Published: 2018

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