Study: Acupuncture Better than Massage for Chronic Neck Pain
Researchers Find “Clear Clinical Advantages” in Reducing Pain and Improving Motion
By Michael Devitt
For most people, a quick visit to a massage therapist has been traditionally considered the best way to provide temporary relief of chronic neck pain.
The results of a randomized trial of neck pain patients published in a recent issue of the British Medical Journal, however, appear to suggest otherwise. According to a team of German and Swedish researchers, acupuncture provides greater short-term pain relief and increases range of motion better than traditional massage techniques.
“Our study shows that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for chronic neck pain, if the objective is to relieve pain and to improve mobility of the cervical spine,” said Dr. Dominik Irnick of Ludwig-Maximilians University in Germany, one of three settings in which the trial was conducted.
In the study, 177 patients with chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to an acupuncture, massage or placebo group. Patients in the acupuncture group were treated at local, remote and ear acupoints, along with myofascial trigger points. The most commonly used points were SI3; UB10; UB60; Liv3; GB20; GB34; TE5; and the “cervical spine” ear point. In the massage group, patients were treated with a variety of Western techniques, including effleurage; petrissage; friction; tapotement and vibration. In the placebo group, sham laser acupuncture was performed using an inactivated laser pen on the same points as patients in the acupuncture group.
A blinded observer assessed the effectiveness of the treatments at six episodes during the course of care: at baseline; immediately after the first treatment; three days after the first treatment; immediately after the last treatment; one week after the last treatment; and three months after treatment. Researchers used a 100-point visual analogue scale to measure the amount of pain a patient suffered related to head movement, along with range of motion and tolerance to pressure. Spontaneous pain, motion-related pain and global pain were also documented, and a survey was administered to each patient to assess their quality of life.
Results
Individuals treated with acupuncture reported greater reductions in pain both immediately after the first and last treatments, and one week after the last treatment, than those treated with massage. Patients in the acupuncture group improved an average of 24.22 points on pain related to motion one week after treatment, compared to only 7.89 points for massage patients. These differences were even more distinct among patients with myofascial pain syndrome (a condition characterized by muscle pain in specific areas of the neck that may be caused by physical or emotional tension) and patients who reported pain lasting more than five years.
Table I: Improvement of pain related to motion one week after treatment compared with baseline measurements.
Patient Group Mean improvement on visual analogue scale
All participants
Acupuncture (n = 51) 24.22 points
Massage (n = 57) 7.89
Patients with myofascial pain syndrome
Acupuncture (n=34) 30.05 points
Massage (n=43) 7.23
Patients with pain >5 years
Acupuncture (n=23) 31.87 points
Massage (n=23) 13.52
Similar results were seen in related measurements. For example, in assessments taken one week after the last treatment, over half of those treated with acupuncture (29/51) reported an improvement of more than 50% in pain related to motion, compared to only 32% of patients treated with massage and less than 25% of patients in the sham acupuncture group. The researchers also found that “significantly more patients in the acupuncture group considered their pain (spontaneous, motion-related) and global complaints improved” compared to patients given massage, with some of these effects lasting as long as three months after treatment was performed.
Table II: Outcomes in chronic neck pain patients, acupuncture vs. massage.
Measurement Acupuncture Massage
Increased range of motion (in degrees)
Immediately after last treatment 19.6 6.2
One week after last treatment 19.8 5.1
Three months after treatment 8.9 5.5
Pain related to direction (improvement on visual analogue scale, 0-100 points)
Immediately after last treatment 16.9 5.6
One week after last treatment 17.3 3.1
Three months after treatment 15.0 8.1
Improvement in instances of spontaneous pain
One week after last treatment 35/51 (69%) 28/56 (50%)
Three months after treatment 33/47 (70%) 25/57 (44%)
Improvement in instances of global pain
One week after last treatment 46/52 (88%) 32/58 (55%)
Three months after treatment 39/48 (81%) 32/57 (56%)
The authors of the study were rather forthright in their praise of acupuncture. “Our results show that acupuncture is a safe form of treatment for people with chronic neck pain, and offers clear clinical advantages over conventional massage in the reduction of pain and improvement of mobility,” they wrote. In particular, it was suggested that acupuncture could be beneficial in treating patients with myofascial pain syndrome, which is estimated to be present in up to 90% of people with chronic neck pain and can be easily recognized through a patient’s case history or a detailed physical exam.
The scientists were less kind in their opinion of massage therapy. Even though it is one of the most common treatments for chronic neck pain – in fact, 77% of the study participants had used massage for pain relief before taking part in the trial – the authors concluded that “conventional massage had only a weak effect” in treating the condition effectively.
Some concerns were raised because the number of treatments (five) given was relatively small, and that they were delivered in a short amount of time. The scientists explained this issue by stating that they “did not want to treat patients with chronic pain with placebo for longer (than five sessions) for ethical reasons.” They also recommended that future research be conducted to determine the optimum number of treatments for the management of these patients.
“Acupuncture can be a safe form of treatment for patients with chronic neck pain if the objective is to obtain relief from pain related to motion and to improve cervical mobility,” the researchers concluded. “As neck pain may be a chronic condition with considerable socioeconomic impact, single forms of treatment may be inadequate, and acupuncture merits consideration.”
References
Irnich D, Behrens N, Molzen H, et al. Randomised trial of acupuncture compared with conventional massage and “sham” laser acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain. British Medical Journal June 30, 2001;322:1-6.
Huggins C. Acupuncture better than massage for neck pain. Reuters Health, June 29, 2001.
Woznicki K. Acupuncture better than massage. United Press International, June 28, 2001.
Patient Feedback
Real patient experiences from our clinic in Auckland
“I had been struggling with persistent neck and shoulder pain for a long time.
Dr Huang’s acupuncture treatment made a huge difference.
After just a few sessions, I noticed significant relief in both pain and tension.
He was very professional and took the time to fully understand my condition.”
“I had been dealing with nerve-related issues in my neck, back, and shoulders for years, along with ongoing discomfort and migraines.
After continued treatment, I feel stronger, healthier, and the pain has been released.
This was one of the best decisions I have made.”
“After a neck injury, I developed severe pain affecting my shoulder and arms, and at one point I couldn’t work.
With regular acupuncture treatment, the pain reduced significantly and I was able to move my arms again.
The improvement has made a real difference in my daily life.”
Why Some Neck Pain Does Not Improve
Many treatments focus only on:
- Joint structures
- Imaging findings
However, if the real issue involves:
- Nerve irritation
- Deep muscle tension
- Functional imbalance
👉 The symptoms are likely to return.
👉 Identifying the real cause is the key to long-term improvement.
How We Treat Neck Pain
At our clinic, treatment focuses on both symptoms and underlying causes.
Acupuncture treatment
Targeted acupuncture is used to release deep muscle tension and reduce nerve irritation.
Deep muscle release
Moving cupping is often used to relax tight muscles and improve circulation.
Nerve pathway adjustment
In selected cases, techniques such as bloodletting may be used to reduce pressure along nerve pathways.
Functional correction
Gentle manual techniques are used to improve joint alignment and restore natural movement patterns.
👉 The goal is not just pain relief, but more stable and long-term recovery.
Neck Pain Treatment in Auckland
Our acupuncture clinic in Auckland provides treatment for:
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Nerve-related symptoms
We focus on identifying the real cause, not just treating the symptoms.
Book Your Treatment
If your neck pain in Auckland keeps coming back, it may be time to look deeper.
👉 Book your appointment:
https://drwin.co.nz/online-booking/
Clinical Insight – What We See in Practice
In many patients, neck pain is not simply a joint issue.
It often involves a combination of:
- Nerve sensitivity
- Deep muscle tension
- Movement pattern dysfunction
👉 This is why focusing only on structure often does not fully explain the symptoms.
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