Effectiveness of Pharmacopuncture for Chronic Neck Pain

A Study on the Effectiveness of Pharmacopuncture for Chronic Neck Pain: A Protocol for a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

In this study, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacopuncture therapy for chronic neck pain compared to physical therapy.

This study is prgmatic RCT of pharmacopuncture therapy for chronic neck pain compared to physical therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Neck pain more than 6 months
• VAS of neck pain more than 5
• Age between 17 and 70 years old
• Participants who wrote informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Migration of cancer reaching to spine, fracture of spine
• Progressive neurologic deficits or severe neurologic deficits
• Cancer, fibromyalgia, RA, or goat
• Stroke, MI, kidney disease, dimentia, diabetic neuropathy, or epilepsy
• Participants taking steroid, immunosuppressant, or psychotropic medication
• Hemorrhagic disease, severe diabetes or taking anticoagulant drug
• Participants who took NSAIDs or pharmacopuncture within 1 week
• Pregnant or lactating women
• Participants who had undergone cervical surgery within 3 months
• Participants who had participated in other clinical trial within 1 month, or have plan for participation in other trial during follow up period of this trial
• Participants who can not write informed consent
• Participants who is difficult to participate in the trial according to investigator's decision