Cervical spondylosis is a common degenerative disorder of the cervical spine that often leads to chronic neck pain, stiffness, and reduced daily functioning. Pain management in these patients remains challenging, and acupuncture is widely used as a non-pharmacological treatment option. However, the additional benefit of stimulating the Lieque (LU7) acupoint, based on the Six Command Points theory, has not been fully established.

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether acupuncture at Lieque (LU7), combined with electroacupuncture at Jiaji (Ex-B2, C4-C7) and cervical-shoulder points, provides greater pain relief compared to electroacupuncture at Jiaji (Ex-B2, C4-C7) and cervical-shoulder points alone.

A total of 130 participants with cervical spondylosis will be randomly assigned to two groups. Treatments will be delivered over 20 days. The primary outcome is the change in neck pain intensity, measured by a 0-100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), from baseline to the end of treatment.

The findings will provide clinical evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture at Lieque (LU7) for reducing neck pain and improving patient outcomes in cervical spondylosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 40 years or older

• Diagnosis of cervical spondylosis based on clinical evaluation and imaging.

• Presence of cervical spine syndrome, including:

  • Neck and shoulder pain.
  • Limited range of motion in the cervical spine.
  • Local tenderness over the cervical spine or paraspinal region corresponding to nerve roots.

• Radiographic evidence of cervical spondylosis on standard X-ray (frontal, lateral, or oblique views), showing one or more of the following:

  • Subchondral sclerosis.
  • Narrowing of the intervertebral disc space.
  • Osteophyte formation (bone spurs, bridging osteophytes).

• Patients receiving treatment at Thu Duc City Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who do not agree to participate in the study.
• Acute torticollis, cervical disc herniation, spinal deformity, cervical spine trauma, or spinal tumors.
• Neck and shoulder pain not caused by cervical spondylosis.
• History of systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, severe cardiovascular disease, systemic infection, malignancy, or immunodeficiency disorders.
• History of neurological or psychiatric conditions that impair communication or compliance, including speech disorders, impaired consciousness, psychosis, or dementia.
• Contraindications to electroacupuncture.
• Non-compliance with study treatment protocol.
• Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) within the past 10 days or local corticosteroid injection within the past 3 months.

Individual participant data will not be shared due to concerns regarding data confidentiality and patient privacy.