OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess changes in upper trapezius myoelectric activity and pain in patients with nonspecific neck pain after a single session of acupuncture (ACP). METHODS: A blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted. Fifteen patients with nonspecific neck pain and 15 healthy participants were enrolled in a randomized, single-blinded, crossover study. Each participant was subjected to a single session of ACP and sham acupuncture (SACP). The electromyography (EMG) signal of the upper trapezius muscle was recorded during different step contractions of shoulder elevation force (15% to 30% maximal voluntary contraction) before and after ACP treatment. RESULTS: Significant effects were confirmed after the treatment (ACP and SACP) for numeric rating scale scores (F[1,28] = 51.61; p < 0.0001) and pain area (F[1,2] = 32.03; p < 0.0001). Significant decreases in the EMG amplitude were identified for the nonspecific neck pain group (NPG) (F[1,112] = 26.82; p < 0.0001) and the healthy participant group (HPG) (F[1,112] = 21.69; p < 0.0001) after ACP treatment. No differences were identified between the ACP and SACP treatment protocols for numeric rating scale score (NPG F[1,28] = 0.95; p = 0.33), pain area (NPG F[1,28] = 1.97; p = 0.17), or EMG amplitude (NPG F[1,112] = 0.47; p = 0.49; HPG F[1,112] = 0.75; p = 0.38). CONCLUSION: The effect of ACP at acupoints triple energizer 5 and large intestine 11 triple energizer 5, or in close proximity, contributes to pain relief among patients with nonspecific neck pain. The electromyographic analysis indicated a greater resistance to muscle fatigue and decrease of activity of the upper trapezius muscle among healthy participants and patients with nonspecific neck pain.
Reprinted from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics with copyright permission from the National University of Health Sciences.

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