OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of therapeutic effect of cervical spondylosis of neck type treated with acupuncture at starting and ending points of trapezius and the Jiaji (EX-B 2) points.

METHODSSixty cases of cervical spondylosis of neck type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In observation group, the acupoints related with starting and ending points of trapezius, such as Tianzhu (BL 10), Fengchi (GB 20), Quyuan (SI 13), Jugu (LI 16) and Ashi were punctured; in control group, Jiaji (EX-B 2) points of neck were punctured. The treatments were applied 5 times a week and 2 weeks made one course. The international simplified McGill scale was adoped to assess the scores of Pain Rating Index (PRI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Present Pain Intensity (PPI) before treatment and after one course treatment, and the therapeutic effects were measured.

RESULTSAfter treatment, all the scores were obviously reduced in both groups: (all P < 0.01), and the PRI-sensory subscore, PRI-affective subscore and total score in observation group reduced more obviously than those in control group, and there were statistically significant differences between groups (all P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between groups in VAS and PPI score (both P > 0.05). The total effective rate of 96.7% (29/30) in observation group was superior to that of 70.0% (21/30) in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of cervical spondylosis of neck type treated with acupuncture at the starting and ending points of trapezius is positive, which is better than that of acupuncture at the Jiaji (EX-B 2) points.