Effect of acupuncture treatment on chronic neck and shoulder pain in sedentary female workers: a 6-month and 3-year follow-up study

The article in question investigated the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic neck and shoulder pain in sedentary female workers, with long-term follow-up. This is a question of great medical and social relevance, since chronic pain in these regions is one of the leading occupational health problems. According to data presented in the study, in Norway about 13% of the working population reports moderate or severe neck and shoulder pain, and 11% of women on long-term sick leave suffer from this type of pain. The socioeconomic cost of this absenteeism is considerable, making the search for effective treatments fundamental.

Neck and shoulder pain is among the leading reasons patients seek acupuncture treatment, and 19% of patients seen in general medical practices who seek acupuncture suffer from these problems.

The primary aim of the study was to examine whether acupuncture treatment could reduce chronic neck and shoulder pain, as well as related headaches, and to verify whether any effects would be durable. To this end, the researchers conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial with 24 female office workers, with a mean age of 47 years, who had had neck and shoulder pain for approximately 12 years. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: a test group that received real acupuncture at points considered effective for pain, and a control group that received placebo acupuncture at sham points. Treatment consisted of 10 sessions delivered over 3 to 4 weeks, combining body acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and auricular acupressure.

To assess outcomes, the researchers used questionnaires on pain and headache intensity and frequency, as well as objective measurements of the pain threshold at 28 trigger points using a device called an algometer. Assessments were performed before the first treatment, after the last treatment, six months later, and three years after the end of treatment.

The results clearly demonstrated the efficacy of real acupuncture compared with placebo. Pain intensity and frequency decreased significantly more in the group that received real acupuncture than in the placebo group during the treatment period. Specifically, pain intensity in the treated group fell to about 26% of the initial value, while in the placebo group it remained at 75% of the original value. The degree of headache also decreased more sharply in the treated group, falling to 30% of the pre-treatment value.

Algometer measurements showed that several muscles in the treated group exhibited an increased pain threshold, indicating less sensitivity and muscle pain. Particularly notable was the finding that these benefits persisted for an extraordinarily long period: three years after the end of treatment, the group that received real acupuncture still reported less pain than before treatment, while the placebo group had returned to baseline pain levels.

The clinical implications of this study are substantial for both patients and health professionals. For patients suffering from chronic neck and shoulder pain, the results offer hope of durable relief through a non-pharmacologic treatment with minimal side effects. The fact that the benefits persisted for three years is particularly encouraging, since many treatments for chronic pain offer only temporary relief. For health professionals, the study provides robust evidence that acupuncture can be a valuable therapeutic option, especially considering that the treatment regimen was relatively intensive but limited in time — only 10 sessions over a month.

The study also suggests that at least 8 to 10 sessions are required to achieve significant results, important information for treatment planning. Furthermore, the combination of different acupuncture techniques (body, electroacupuncture, and auricular acupressure) appears to have contributed to the efficacy of treatment.

Despite the promising results, the study has some important limitations that should be considered. The sample size was relatively small, with only 24 participants, which may limit generalization of the results. In addition, the study was conducted exclusively with female office workers, so the results may not apply to men or to people in other types of occupation. The acupuncturist was not blinded to the type of treatment administered, which could introduce some bias, although the physician who performed the assessments did not know which group each patient belonged to.

Another consideration is that during the three-year follow-up period, some participants received other treatments, although the authors believe this did not significantly influence the results given the occasional nature of those treatments. Finally, it is important to note that the study was carried out in Norway with a specific group of female workers, and different populations or health systems may show different results. Despite these limitations, this study represents a valuable contribution to the scientific literature on acupuncture, especially because of its unprecedented long-term follow-up, providing convincing evidence that acupuncture can offer durable relief for chronic neck and shoulder pain.