Electroacupuncture on Neck Muscle Stiffness in Chronic Neck Pain | NCT07741227

NCT07741227

Overview

NCT ID: NCT07741227
Lead Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityOTHER
Official Title: The Immediate Effect of Electroacupuncture on Neck Muscle Stiffness in Individuals With Chronic Neck Pain
Brief Summary: This randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to investigate the immediate physiological effects of a single session of electroacupuncture (EA) on neck muscle stiffness in individuals with chronic neck pain. While acupuncture is a widely used complementary therapy for musculoskeletal pain, high-quality, objective evidence demonstrating its immediate effects on muscle biomechanics remains limited. This study will utilize Shear Wave Elastography (SWE)-a non-invasive, objective ultrasound-based technology-to measure these changes.

Adult participants aged 18 to 65 with non-specific chronic neck pain (lasting

≥ 3 months) will be randomly allocated into one of two groups:

True Electroacupuncture (EA) Group: Participants will receive a 20-minute session of active electroacupuncture with comfortable electrical stimulation at specific neck and tender points.

Sham Acupuncture (Placebo) Group: Participants will receive a 20-minute session of non-penetrating sham acupuncture with a deactivated electroacupuncture device to ensure participant blinding.

The primary objective is to evaluate immediate changes in the stiffness of the upper trapezius muscle, measured objectively via SWE (as Young's Modulus in kPa) before and immediately after the intervention. Secondary objectives include assessing immediate post-treatment changes in subjective pain and stiffness (Visual Analogue Scale), Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), and active Cervical Range of Motion (CROM), alongside a 7-day post-intervention follow-up questionnaire on neck function.

Status and Timeline

Status: Recruiting
Last Update Posted: Aug 3, 2026Actual
Start Date: May 1, 2026Actual
Primary Completion Date: Sep 30, 2026Estimated
Completion Date

Participation Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: Adult (18-64)Older Adult (65+)
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No
Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Aged 18-65 years

Chronic non-specific neck pain persisting for ≥3 months

Average pain intensity ≥3 on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale over the past week

Pain primarily located in the posterior cervical region, which may radiate to the upper trapezius muscles

Able to provide informed consent and sufficient language proficiency to complete questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

Specific pathological causes for neck pain (cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy, fracture, infection, tumour, systemic rheumatic disease)

History of neck or shoulder surgery

Contraindications to acupuncture (severe needle phobia, bleeding disorders, pregnancy)

Received acupuncture or other physical therapy for neck pain within the past 6 months

Study Plan

Study Type: Interventional
Phase: Not Applicable
Enrollment: 66Estimated
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double

Contacts and Locations

Central Contacts: Hio Teng LeongContact
annie-ht.leong@polyu.edu.hk85227666707

Similar Studies

Participant Group/Arms

InterventionExperimental

A single 20-minute session of electroacupuncture administered by a registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner (\>10 years experience). Sterile single-use needles (0.25 mm × 25 mm or 0.30 mm × 40 mm) inserted at GB21, GB20, BL10, and local Ashi points on the affected upper trapezius to elicit de-qi. Needle pairs connected to a HANS-200A pulse generator delivering continuous asymmetric biphasic square wave at 2 Hz, pulse duration 200 μs, intensity titrated to maximum comfortable tolerance (checked every 5 min). Applied to the more painful/stiffer side; if bilateral and symmetrical, the dominant side is treated.

Procedure: Electroacupuncture

Sham ElectroacupunctureSham Comparator

A single 20-minute session using validated Streitberger non-penetrating placebo needles at the same acupoints (GB21, GB20, BL10, Ashi). The blunt-tip needle retracts into the handle upon skin contact without penetrating the skin, secured with adhesive rings. The same HANS-200A device is connected but set to a deactivated mode (blinking lights and sounds active, no electrical current delivered). The practitioner follows an identical protocol and communication script as the EA group, including adjusting the intensity dial on the sham device.

Procedure: Sham Electroacupuncture