Acupuncture at Sensitized Acupoints versus Sham Acupuncture for Neck-Type Cervical Spondylosis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Researchers are conducting a clinical trial to test whether acupuncture at specially selected "sensitized" points works better than fake acupuncture for neck-type cervical spondylosis, the most common form of chronic neck pain from spine degeneration. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, acupuncture points become extra sensitive during illness and treating these highly reactive spots may produce better results than standard approaches. In this study, patients with neck-type cervical spondylosis will be randomly divided into two groups: one receiving real acupuncture at sensitized points and another receiving sham (fake) acupuncture. Both groups will receive three treatment sessions during the first week, with follow-up evaluation four weeks later. Researchers will measure multiple outcomes including neck pain levels, neck disability, range of motion, quality of life, muscle changes visible on ultrasound, and pain sensitivity. Importantly, neither patients nor the people assessing results will know which treatment participants received, which helps ensure unbiased results. This is the first study to specifically test whether targeting sensitized acupuncture points improves outcomes for neck-related cervical spondylosis, and it's also the first to combine both patient-reported symptoms and objective measurements like ultrasound imaging. If successful, this research could provide strong evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment option for this common and often debilitating condition, while also helping scientists understand how acupuncture works biologically. If you're considering acupuncture for neck pain, seek treatment from a licensed acupuncturist certified by your state or national credentialing body.

This single-center, patient- and assessor-blinded RCT will evaluate acupuncture at sensitized acupoints (SA) versus sham acupuncture (SHA) for neck-type cervical spondylosis (NTCS). Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive three treatment sessions during week one, with assessment at week five. The primary outcome measures change in neck pain intensity via VAS. Secondary outcomes include neck disability index, range of motion, SF-12 quality of life scores, cervical musculoskeletal ultrasound findings, and pressure pain threshold values. Intention-to-treat analysis will be employed. This represents the first RCT specifically investigating therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture at sensitized points for NTCS and the first to integrate subjective patient-reported outcomes with objective imaging measures. The study aims to establish evidence for acupuncture's clinical effectiveness in NTCS management while elucidating potential biological mechanisms through comprehensive multimodal assessment. Results may inform point selection strategies based on acupoint sensitization theory in clinical practice.