Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture Combined With Chinese Herbal Fumigation for Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain

Starting soon · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

In brief

Chronic non-specific neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder that significantly affects quality of life and functional ability. Conventional treatments often provide limited relief and may be associated with adverse effects. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal fumigation are commonly used therapies in traditional Chinese medicine and have shown potential benefits in pain relief and functional recovery. This multicenter randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal fumigation in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. A total of 120 participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal fumigation, acupuncture combined with sham fumigation, and acupuncture alone. All participants will receive five treatment sessions within three weeks, followed by a four-week follow-up period. The primary outcome measure is pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures include the Neck Disability Index (NDI), cervical range of motion, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), quality of life scale, and Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). This study aims to provide high-quality clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal fumigation for chronic non-specific neck pain.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07515690

Run by

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

People needed

120

Starts

2026-05-01

Expected to finish

2027-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-13

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Aged 18 to 65 years, any gender
• Diagnosed with chronic non-specific neck pain lasting ≥ 3 months
• Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score ≥ 4
• Cervical range of motion reduced by ≥ 20% compared to normal range
• Conformity to both Western diagnostic criteria and Traditional Chinese Medicine pattern differentiation for "cold coagulation type" neck pain
• Voluntarily participate and provide signed informed consent

You may not qualify if…

• Presence of confirmed cervical disc herniation, nerve compression, or other specific pathologies (e.g., infection, tumor, fracture, etc.)
• History of cervical spine surgery or recent acute neck trauma
• Concomitant severe systemic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, hematological, or psychiatric disorders)
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Known allergy to acupuncture needles or herbal fumigation components
• Receipt of other neck pain-related treatments (e.g., physical therapy, medication, or acupuncture) within the past month
• Presence of open wounds or skin lesions in the treatment area
• Any patient not meeting the inclusion criteria

Where it is running

• M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sungai Long Campus — Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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