Effect of Acupuncture on Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain and Insomnia

Launched by GUANG'ANMEN HOSPITAL OF CHINA ACADEMY OF CHINESE MEDICAL SCIENCES · May 28, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how acupuncture may help people who have chronic neck pain and trouble sleeping (insomnia). The study will compare the effects of real acupuncture to a placebo treatment, which means some participants will receive acupuncture while others will get a treatment that feels similar but doesn't actually work. The goal is to see if acupuncture can effectively reduce neck pain and improve sleep quality for those who suffer from these conditions.

To participate in the trial, individuals need to be between 18 and 75 years old and should have been experiencing moderate neck pain and insomnia. Participants must be willing to sign a consent form to join the study. However, people with specific types of neck pain or other health issues, such as recent surgeries, certain sleep disorders, or severe medical conditions, cannot take part in this study. If you decide to join, you can expect to receive either real or placebo acupuncture over the course of the trial, and your progress will be monitored to see how your neck pain and sleep improve.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Aged 18 to 75 years old;
• • 2. Meet the diagnostic criteria for both chronic nonspecific neck pain and chronic insomnia;
• • 3. The patient's average 24-hour overall neck pain intensity score on the NRS is ≥3;
• • 4. The patient's Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score is ≥10;
• • 5. The patient is willing to participate in the study and has signed the informed consent form.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Specific neck pain with a clear etiology, including trauma, tumor, connective tissue disease, rheumatic disease, metabolic and endocrine disorders, neuropathy, spinal cord disease, fracture, or vertebral misalignment;
• • 2. Positive Spurling test, neck flexion test, upper limb traction test, or foraminal distraction test. Neck pain accompanied by radiating pain in the upper limbs or radicular compression symptoms, or acute exacerbation of neck pain;
• • 3. Neck pain accompanied by sensory disturbances or other neurological symptoms, or ankylosis of the facet joints;
• • 4. Previous history of cervical spine surgery;
• • 5. Previous history of head and neck trauma, such as whiplash injury;
• • 6. Insomnia caused by medications (e.g., caffeine, corticosteroids), withdrawal reactions, or other underlying conditions (e.g., hyperthyroidism, severe anxiety/depressive disorders);
• • 7. Long-term use of analgesics, muscle relaxants, or hormones, or presence of other pain more severe than neck pain;
• • 8. Other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea syndrome, or shift workers;
• • 9. Presence of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression), cognitive impairment, or language disorders;
• • 10. Patients with drug dependency;
• • 11. Received acupuncture treatment within the past month;
• • 12. Severe cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, hematologic, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, poor general nutritional status, malignancy, or patients in the terminal stage of severe illness;
• • 13. Pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the next year, breastfeeding, or postpartum ≤12 months.