Stick-Point Massage Combined With Acupuncture for a Large Dorsocervical Fat Pad: A Case Report

Dorsocervical fat pad is characterized by localized fat accumulation at the cervicothoracic junction and may be associated with neck stiffness, limited mobility, cosmetic concern, and altered cervical biomechanics. Evidence regarding conservative, nonpharmacological management for large dorsocervical fat pads remains limited. This case report describes the clinical course of a patient treated with a combined intervention of stick-point massage and acupuncture.

A 51-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of recurrent neck and shoulder stiffness, pain, discomfort, and dizziness, with aggravation during the preceding 6 months. Physical examination showed a large posterior cervical fatty mass measuring approximately 10 cm x 12 cm. Imaging demonstrated cervical degenerative changes without clear nerve compression or spinal cord involvement. The patient received daily stick-point muscle manipulation massage followed by acupuncture for 1 month. Symptoms improved progressively, the visible dorsocervical mass decreased compared with baseline photographs, the visual analog scale score decreased from 7 to 3, and the Neck Disability Index score improved from 23 to 14.

In this case, stick-point massage combined with acupuncture was associated with reduced symptoms and visible improvement of a large dorsocervical fat pad over 1 month. This nonpharmacological integrative intervention may provide a practical conservative option for selected patients, although controlled studies with objective imaging-based measurements and longer follow-up are required.