Efficacy of Three-Needle Dazhui and Electroacupuncture for Cervical Spondylosis With Wind-Cold Syndrome

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Cervical Spondylosis, Wind-Cold Syndrome, Neck Pain, Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy

In brief

Cervical spondylosis is a prevalent health issue that significantly impacts quality of life, with Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy (CSR) accounting for 60-70% of cases * While modern medicine offers various treatments, the frequent use of painkillers often leads to undesirable side effects * In Traditional Chinese Medicine, electroacupuncture is a safe and effective method recognized by the Ministry of Health for treating this condition * The "Three-Needle Dazhui" technique is a specialized acupuncture method that simultaneously uses three needles at the Dazhui (GV14) point to strongly activate Yang Qi and dispel cold, making it particularly suitable for the Wind-Cold syndrome. This study aims to evaluate whether the combination of the Three-Needle Dazhui technique and electroacupuncture yields better results in pain reduction and functional improvement compared to electroacupuncture alone in patients with cervical spondylosis and Wind-Cold syndrome.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07640126
Run by: University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
People needed: 74
Starts: 2026-06-01
Expected to finish: 2028-06-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-07-20

Who can join

Age: 0 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Consent: Participants must voluntarily agree to participate and sign a written informed consent form.
Age: Individuals aged 18 years or older.
Pain Intensity: Patients with a baseline pain score of VAS ≥ 50 mm on the Visual Analog Scale.
Modern Medicine Diagnosis (Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy - CSR) Patients must meet the diagnostic criteria for CSR due to cervical spondylosis according to Decision 361/QD-BYT, including:
Cervical Spine Syndrome: Localized neck pain, restricted range of motion, and tenderness upon palpation of the spinous processes or paravertebral areas.
Radicular Syndrome: Neck pain radiating to the occipital region, shoulder, arm, or hand.
Physical Examination: At least one positive result from the following tests: Bell-ringer sign, Spurling's test, Shoulder abduction test, or Cervical distraction test.
Imaging Criteria: X-ray findings (straight, lateral, or 3/4 oblique views) showing at least one of the following:
Osteophytes (bone spurs) on the vertebral body.
Intervertebral disc space narrowing ≥ 25%.
Subchondral bone sclerosis.
Spondylolisthesis. - Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Diagnosis (Wind-Cold Syndrome) Patients must satisfy at least one primary symptom and reach a total symptom score of ≥ 50% based on the following criteria:
Primary Symptoms: Pain in the neck and shoulder radiating to the arm accompanied by numbness; pain is the dominant feature; pain increases with cold and decreases with warmth.
Secondary Symptoms: Aversion to cold, aversion to wind, cold extremities, and presence or absence of sweating.
Tongue and Pulse: Pale tongue with a thin white coating; floating-tight or slow pulse.

You may not qualify if…

History of neck trauma.
Diagnosed with specific bone or joint diseases: Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, Down syndrome, cervical spina bifida, or Scheuermann's disease.
Severe neurological deficits: Progressive muscle weakness (motor loss) or acute, severe sensory loss indicating advanced nerve compression.
Vertebral-basilar artery syndrome: Headache, dizziness, tinnitus, loss of balance, or fatigue.
Autonomic nervous system disorders: Pain accompanied by tinnitus, visual disturbances, or vasomotor disorders in the occipital-shoulder region or arms.
Central motor neuron lesions: Presence of Hoffmann's sign, Babinski's sign, hyperreflexia, spasticity, urinary/fecal incontinence, or sexual dysfunction.
Symptoms suggesting systemic or malignant disease: Unexplained weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, personal or family history of malignant tumors, or diffuse pain and stiffness.
Symptoms suggesting infection: Fever, meningeal signs, or photophobia.
Symptoms suggesting serious acute medical conditions: Myocardial infarction (chest pain + sweating + shortness of breath) or arterial dissection (tearing pain sensation + headache + blurred vision).
Local or systemic contraindications: Infection or ulceration at the acupuncture site; patients who are exhausted, emaciated, or suffering from severe accompanying internal medical diseases.
Substance abuse: Alcohol or drug addiction.
Recent medication use (within the past month): Currently using analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs that may affect results, such as Opioids, NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, Gabapentin, Pregabalin, or tricyclic antidepressants.
Other ongoing treatments: Currently undergoing other therapies such as acupressure, massage, or physical therapy for the neck area.

Where it is running

University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City — Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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