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Related Experiment Videos

Acupuncture for acute torticollis: a pilot study.

Noah Samuels1

  • 1Shoresh Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. refplus@netvision.net.il

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine
|December 31, 2003
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces objective measurements for acute torticollis (stiff neck) treatment with acupuncture, showing significant improvement in lateral head rotation. Early treatment yielded better outcomes, suggesting objective endpoints are crucial for acupuncture research.

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Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Neurology
  • Integrative Medicine

Background:

  • Subjective pain scales (e.g., VAS) yield inconsistent results for acupuncture in chronic neck pain.
  • Acute torticollis (stiff neck) requires objective assessment methods for treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and evaluate an objective parameter for assessing acupuncture effectiveness in acute torticollis.
  • To compare treatment outcomes based on symptom duration.

Main Methods:

  • Eighteen patients with acute torticollis received a single 20-minute acupuncture session.
  • Needling focused on Hou Hsi (SI-3) and Luo Zhen (M-UE-24) points ipsilateral to the affected neck side.
  • Lateral head rotation measured using a compass and protractor.

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Main Results:

  • A mean improvement of 52.9% in lateral head rotation was observed.
  • Patients treated earlier (< 24 hours) showed significantly better outcomes than those treated later (> 72 hours; p = 0.034).

Conclusions:

  • Objective parameters are vital for reliable acupuncture research in neck pain conditions.
  • Acupuncture demonstrates efficacy in improving range of motion for acute torticollis.
  • The study highlights limitations of sham/placebo controls in acupuncture research due to potential physiological effects.