Cervical SpondylosisDALANCT07240623

Comparison of Manual Acupuncture at Distal Acupoints Versus Electroacupuncture at Local Acupoints in Patients With Acute Neck Pain Due to Cervical Spondylosis

A study testing Manual acupuncture at distal acupoints and Electroacupuncture at local acupoints in people with Cervical Spondylosis and Acute Neck Pain, run by School of Medicine - Vietnam National University at Ho Chi Minh city at 1 site in Vietnam.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record

Search all trials

Trial summary

This study is a randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial involving two groups: manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture, with 62 participants in each group. All participants received treatment once daily for 10 consecutive days, combined with at least 10 minutes of active cervical spine exercises per… Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 30 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for: Cervical Spondylosis, Acute Neck Pain, Neck Pain Musculoskeletal
What is being tested?: Manual acupuncture at distal acupoints and Electroacupuncture at local acupoints
Type of treatment: Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?: No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people: 124 participants
Where: 1 siteVietnam
Study dates: 25 Sep 2024to 15 May 2025
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 30 to 70 years
All sexes
No healthy volunteers
Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

Acute onset of neck pain lasting less than 6 weeks.
Pain intensity ≥ 50 mm on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Presence of limitation in at least one cervical range of motion (ROM).
Radiographic diagnosis of cervical spondylosis based on Kellgren and Lawrence criteria.

Who cannot join

Patients with infection, cachexia, or psychiatric disorders.
Currently using analgesic medication.
Cervical movement limitation persisting for more than 6 weeks.
History of or indication for cervical spine surgery.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Vietnam1 site

Traditional Medicine Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Xuan Hoa Ward

Other trials in Vietnam

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Controlled Single-blind Clinical Trial Comparing the Therapeutic Effects of Manual Acupuncture at Distal Acupoints With Electroacupuncture at Local Acupoints in Patients With Acute Neck Pain Due to Cervical Spondylosis

Participants were allowed to take one 500 mg tablet of paracetamol if the pain exceeded their tolerance threshold, with a minimum interval of 6 hours between doses and a maximum daily dose of 1,500 mg. The number of tablets taken each day was recorded. No other analgesic interventions were permitted during the study period.

The objective of this study was to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of the two interventions in improving pain intensity (VAS score) and limitations of cervical range of motion after each treatment session. In addition, adverse events were monitored and recorded after every intervention.

Conditions: Cervical Spondylosis, Acute Neck Pain, Neck Pain Musculoskeletal, Degenerative Cervical Spine
Being tested: Manual acupuncture at distal acupoints, Electroacupuncture at local acupoints
Medical subject headings: Spondylosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Manual acupuncture at distal acupointsProcedure or surgery
Also called Manual acupuncture, Distal acupoints
Manual acupuncture applied for 25 minutes at distal acupoints selected based on meridian diagnosis (SI3, SI5, TE4, BL60, BL62, GB40) on the contralateral side of the pain. During needle retention, participants performed active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.
Electroacupuncture at local acupointsProcedure or surgery
Also called Electroacupuncture, Local acupoints
Electroacupuncture applied for 25 minutes at local acupoints (GB20-SI15 and GB21-LU7) on the painful side. After needle removal, participants performed active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.

Study groups in NCT07240623
Study group	Role	What they receive
Manual Acupuncture	Active comparator	Participants receive manual acupuncture at distal acupoints (SI3, SI5, TE4, BL60, BL62, GB40) on the contralateral side of the painful neck area for 25 minutes. During needle retention, patients perform active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes. Receives: Procedure: Manual acupuncture at distal acupoints
Electroacupuncture	Active comparator	Participants receive electroacupuncture for 25 minutes at local acupoints (GB20-SI15 and GB21-LU7) on the painful side. After needle removal, patients perform active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes. Receives: Procedure: Electroacupuncture at local acupoints

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Change in pain intensity (VAS score)
Pain intensity is assessed using a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where ≤4 indicates no pain and 100 indicates the worst imaginable pain. The change in VAS score from baseline to each treatment day is recorded for comparison between groups.
Measured: Baseline and after each daily treatment for 10 consecutive days
Change in cervical range of motion (ROM) limitation score
The cervical range of motion (ROM) was measured for six movements: flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion, and right and left rotation. Each movement was assessed using a goniometer, and the measured angles were converted into a limitation score ranging from 0 to 4 according to the following grading system:
- 0 - Normal ROM (flexion 45°-55°, extension 60°-70°, lateral flexion 40°-50°, rotation 60°-70°)
- 1 - Mild limitation (flexion 40°-44°, extension 55°-59°, lateral flexion 35°-39°, rotation 55°-59°)
- 2 - Moderate limitation (flexion 35°-39°, extension 50°-54°, lateral flexion 30°-34°, rotation 50°-54°)
- 3 - Severe limitation (flexion 30°-34°, extension 45°-49°, lateral flexion 25°-29°, rotation 45°-49°)
- 4 - Very severe limitation (<30° flexion, <45° extension, <25° lateral flexion, <45° rotation) The total limitation score was calculated as the sum of all six movement scores, with higher scores indicating greater cervical movement restriction.
Measured: Baseline and after each daily treatment for 10 consecutive days

Secondary outcomes (1)

Adverse events related to acupuncture or electroacupuncture
Any adverse events such as local pain, swelling, dizziness, or fainting were observed and recorded after each treatment session. Severity and frequency were summarized descriptively.
Measured: Monitored immediately after each treatment session and at the end of the 10-day treatment period

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

25 Sep 202415 May 2025

First posted21 Nov 2025
Study start25 Sep 2024
Primary completion30 Apr 2025
Study completion15 May 2025

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Other trials for Cervical SpondylosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Single blind
Who is masked: Participant
Enrolment: 124 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07240623
Sponsor's protocol ID: 3836/QĐ-ĐHYD
Other IDs: IRB No. IRB-VN01002
Acronym: DALA
Status last verified: Nov 2025
First submitted: 16 Nov 2025
Last updated: 21 Nov 2025
Results posted: No
Data monitoring committee: Yes
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No
Individual data sharing: No

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See locations

Enrolling by invitation
Assessing Microbiome in Primary Anterior Cervical Fusion Patients
Cervical Stenosis, Myelopathy
Not yet recruiting
Validating Blinding Maintenance of a Sham-Sensitization Control Design for Sensitization Acupuncture Trials
Knee Osteoarthritis; Insomnia; Cervical Spondylosis; Chronic Low Back Pain; Allergic Rhinitis
Recruiting
Hard Cervical Collar Use Following Posterior Cervical Fusion
Spinal Stenosis Cervical, Radiculopathy, Cervical Region
Recruiting
Effectiveness of Pressure Biofeedback-Assisted Deep Cervical Flexor Training With and Without Scapular Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion and Neck Disability in Cervical Spondylosis
Cervical Spondylosis
RecruitingObservational study
Prospective Case Series Evaluating 6-Month and 12-Month Outcomes After Cryoneurolysis for Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

All Cervical Spondylosis trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: A Randomized Controlled Single-blind Clinical Trial Comparing the Therapeutic Effects of Manual Acupuncture at Distal Acupoints With Electroacupuncture at Local Acupoints in Patients With Acute Neck Pain Due to Cervical Spondylosis
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07240623
Acronym / sponsor ID: DALA / 3836/QĐ-ĐHYD
Conditions: Cervical Spondylosis, Acute Neck Pain, Neck Pain Musculoskeletal, Degenerative Cervical Spine
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 124 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: School of Medicine - Vietnam National University at Ho Chi Minh cityUniversity, hospital or other
Study start: 25 Sep 2024 (actual)
Primary completion: 30 Apr 2025 (actual)
Study completion: 15 May 2025 (actual)
First posted: 21 Nov 2025 (actual)
Results: Not posted in the source record

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Single blind (participant)
Number of arms: 2

Arm	Type	Receives
Manual Acupuncture	Active comparator	Procedure: Manual acupuncture at distal acupointsParticipants receive manual acupuncture at distal acupoints (SI3, SI5, TE4, BL60, BL62, GB40) on the contralateral side of the painful neck area for 25 minutes. During needle retention, patients perform active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.
Electroacupuncture	Active comparator	Procedure: Electroacupuncture at local acupointsParticipants receive electroacupuncture for 25 minutes at local acupoints (GB20-SI15 and GB21-LU7) on the painful side. After needle removal, patients perform active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.

Who may qualify

Ages: 30 to 70 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Not accepted
Age groups: Adult, Older adult

Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)

Acute onset of neck pain lasting less than 6 weeks.
Pain intensity ≥ 50 mm on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Presence of limitation in at least one cervical range of motion (ROM).
Radiographic diagnosis of cervical spondylosis based on Kellgren and Lawrence criteria.

Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)

Patients with infection, cachexia, or psychiatric disorders.
Currently using analgesic medication.
Cervical movement limitation persisting for more than 6 weeks.
History of or indication for cervical spine surgery.

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
Manual acupuncture at distal acupointsAlso: Manual acupuncture, Distal acupointsManual acupuncture applied for 25 minutes at distal acupoints selected based on meridian diagnosis (SI3, SI5, TE4, BL60, BL62, GB40) on the contralateral side of the pain. During needle retention, participants performed active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.	Procedure or surgery	Manual Acupuncture
Electroacupuncture at local acupointsAlso: Electroacupuncture, Local acupointsElectroacupuncture applied for 25 minutes at local acupoints (GB20-SI15 and GB21-LU7) on the painful side. After needle removal, participants performed active cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation) for at least 10 minutes.	Procedure or surgery	Electroacupuncture

Primary outcome

Change in pain intensity (VAS score)
Time frame: Baseline and after each daily treatment for 10 consecutive days
Pain intensity is assessed using a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where ≤4 indicates no pain and 100 indicates the worst imaginable pain. The change in VAS score from baseline to each treatment day is recorded for comparison between groups.
Change in cervical range of motion (ROM) limitation score
Time frame: Baseline and after each daily treatment for 10 consecutive days
The cervical range of motion (ROM) was measured for six movements: flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion, and right and left rotation. Each movement was assessed using a goniometer, and the measured angles were converted into a limitation score ranging from 0 to 4 according to the following grading system: * 0 - Normal ROM (flexion 45°-55°, extension 60°-70°, lateral flexion 40°-50°, rotation 60°-70°) * 1 - Mild limitation (flexion 40°-44°, extension 55°-59°, lateral flexion 35°-39°, rotation 55°-59°) * 2 - Moderate limitation (flexion 35°-39°, extension 50°-54°, lateral flexion 30°-34°, rotation 50°-54°) * 3 - Severe limitation (flexion 30°-34°, extension 45°-49°, lateral flexion 25°-29°, rotation 45°-49°) * 4 - Very severe limitation (<30° flexion, <45° extension, <25° lateral flexion, <45° rotation) The total limitation score was calculated as the sum of all six movement scores, with higher scores indicating greater cervical movement restriction.

1 secondary outcome

Adverse events related to acupuncture or electroacupuncture
Time frame: Monitored immediately after each treatment session and at the end of the 10-day treatment period

Results and safety

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Nov 2025.
Individual participant dataSharing planned: No

Related trials for Cervical Spondylosis

Enrolling by invitation
Assessing Microbiome in Primary Anterior Cervical Fusion Patients
Cervical Stenosis, Myelopathy
Not yet recruiting
Validating Blinding Maintenance of a Sham-Sensitization Control Design for Sensitization Acupuncture Trials
Knee Osteoarthritis; Insomnia; Cervical Spondylosis; Chronic Low Back Pain; Allergic Rhinitis
Recruiting
Hard Cervical Collar Use Following Posterior Cervical Fusion
Spinal Stenosis Cervical, Radiculopathy, Cervical Region
Recruiting
Effectiveness of Pressure Biofeedback-Assisted Deep Cervical Flexor Training With and Without Scapular Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion and Neck Disability in Cervical Spondylosis
Cervical Spondylosis
RecruitingObservational study
Prospective Case Series Evaluating 6-Month and 12-Month Outcomes After Cryoneurolysis for Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Vietnam. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in pain intensity (VAS score) (time frame: Baseline and after each daily treatment for 10 consecutive days). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07240623.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Nov 2025.