Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Acupuncture in the management of myofascial pain and headache

  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Acupuncture encompasses a host of healing techniques that have been practiced for more than 2000 years. Many different techniques and styles are in use in the West. The scientific study of acupuncture regarding its effectiveness has proven to be problematic and definitive studies are few. This is partly because of the difficulty in studying a dynamic, patient-centered system whose practice paradigms often are artificially limited by the application of a reductionist methodology, which is dictated by the standards of scientific enquiry. However, acupuncture, unlike many indigent medical practices in the world, has withstood the test of time in China and in the West, with many practitioners and patients reporting real benefits for the conditions of headache and myofascial pain when treated by acupuncture. This review provides a brief overview of acupuncture and what is known of its effectiveness in treating headache and myofascial pain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Kaptchuk T: Medicine: The Web That Has No Weaver. Chicago: Contemporary Books; 2000. An excellent overview of acupuncture and Chinese medicine written in an accessible style.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pomeranz B: Scientific basis of acupuncture. In Basics of Acupuncture. Edited by Stux G, Pomeranz B. Berlin: Springer; 1998:6–72. A complete overview of the scientific literature on the effects of acupuncture in humans and animals.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mayer DJ, Price DD, Raffii A: Antagonism of acupuncture analgesia in man by the narcotic antagonist naloxone. Brain Res 1977, 121:368–372.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hui KK, Liu J, Makris N, et al.: Acupuncture modulates the limbic system and subcortical gray structures of the brain: evidence form fMRI studies in normal subjects. Hum Brain Mapp 2000, 9:13–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cho ZH, Chung SC, Jones JP, et al.: New findings of the correlation between acupoints and corresponding brain cortices using functional MRI. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998, 95:2670–2673.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Siedentopf CM, Golaszewski SM, Mottaghy FM, et al.: Functional magnetic resonance imaging detects activation of the visual association cortex during laser acupuncture of the foot in humans. Neurosci Lett 2002, 327:53–56.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wu MT, Sheen JM, Chuang KH, et al.: Neuronal specificity of acupuncture response: and fMRI study with electroacupuncture. Neuroimage 2002, 16:1028–1037.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wu MT, Hsieh JC, Xiong J, et al.: Central nervous pathway for acupuncture stimulation: localization of processing with functional MR imaging of the brain: preliminary experience. Radiology 1999, 212:133–141.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Matsumoto K, Euler D: Liv-1. In Kiiko Matsumoto’s Clinical Strategies in the Spirit of Master Nagano, vol 1. Natick; 2002:408.

  10. Park J, White A, Stevinson C, et al.: Validating a new nonpenetrating sham acupuncture device: two randomized controlled trials. Acupunct Med 2002, 20:168–174.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Schnyer RN, Allen JJ: Bridging the gap in complementary and alternative medicine research: manualization as a means of promoting standardization and flexibility of treatment in clinical trials of acupuncture. J Altern Complement Med 2002, 8:623–634.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ernst E, White A: Life-threatening adverse reactions after acupuncture: a systematic review. Pain 1997, 71:123–126.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lao L, Hamilton GR, Fu J, Berman BM: Is Acupuncture safe? A systematic review of case reports. Altern Ther Health Med 2003, 9:72–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kim DI, Huh SH, Lee BB, et al.: Pseudoaneurysm of the abdominal aorta caused by acupuncture therapy. Surg Today 2002, 32:942–943.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Chang D, Chung KC: A case of intracerebral air embolism following acupuncture. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 1995, 5:238–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Cheng TO: Pericardial effusion from self-inserted needle in the heart [letter]. Eur Heart J 1991, 12:958.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Halvorsen TB, Anda SS, Naess AB, Levang OW: Fatal cardiac tamponade after acupuncture through congenital sternal foramen [letter]. Lancet 1995, 6:1175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kida Y, Naritomi H, Sawada T, et al.: Cervical spinal cord injury caused by acupuncture [letter]. Arch Neurol 1988, 45:831.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kondo A, Koyama T, Ishikawa J, Yamasaki T: Injury to the spinal cord produced by acupuncture needle. Surg Neurol 1979, 11:155–156.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Shiraishi S, Goto I, Kuroiwa Y, et al.: Spinal cord injury as a complication of an acupuncture. Neurology 1979, 29:1188–1190.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Alexander P, Fairley GH, Smithers DW: Repeated acupunctures and serum hepatitis [letter]. Br Med J 1974, 17:466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Alexis J, Lubin J, Bichachi A: Acupuncture and non-A, non-B hepatitis [letter]. South Med J 1988, 81:101.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lee RJ, McIlwain JC: Subacute bacterial endocarditis following ear acupuncture. Int J Cardiol 1985, 7:62–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Allison G, Kravitz E: Auricular chondritis secondary to acupuncture. N Engl J Med [letter] 1975, 9:780.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Baltimore RS, Moloy PJ: Perichondritis of the ear as a complication of acupuncture. Arch Otolaryngol 1976, 102:572–573.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Blanchard BM: Deep vein thrombophlebitis after acupuncture [letter]. Ann Intern Med 1991, 115:748.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Garcia AA, Venkataramani A: Bilateral psoas abscesses following acupuncture [letter]. West J Med 1994, 161:90.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Warwick-Brown NP, Richards AE: Perichondritis of the ear following acupuncture. J Laryngol Otol 1986, 100:1177–1179.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Bodner G, Topilsky M, Greif J: Pneumothorax as a complication of acupuncture in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Ann Allergy 1983, 51:401–403.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Goldberg I: Pneumothorax associated with acupuncture. Med J Aust 1973, 12:941–942.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Gray R, Maharajh GS, Hyland R: Pneumothorax resulting from acupuncture. Can Assoc Radiol J 1991, 42:139–140.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Lewis-Driver DJ: Pneumothorax associated with acupuncture [letter]. Med J Aust 1973, 11:296–297.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Mazal DA, King T, Harvey J, Cohen J: Bilateral pneumothorax after acupuncture [letter]. N Engl J Med 1980, 302:1365–1366.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Valenta LJ, Hengesh JW: Pneumothorax caused by acupuncture [letter]. Lancet 1980, 8189:322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Vilke GM, Wulfert EA: Case reports of two patients with pneumothorax following acupuncture. J Emerg Med 1997, 15:155–157.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Waldman I: Pneumothorax from acupuncture [letter]. N Engl J Med 1974, 290:633.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The sensations of acupuncture. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ acupuncture/#sensation. Accessed July 25, 2003.

  38. National Institutes of Health: Acupuncture. NIH Consensus Statement 1997, 15:1–34. http://consensus.nih.gov/cons/107/ 107_statement.htm. Accessed July 25, 2003. A very good overview of the efficacy of acupuncture as documented by the scientific literature through 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Melchart D, Linde K, Fisher P, et al.: Acupuncture for recurrent headaches: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Cephalalgia 1999, 19:779–786.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, et al.: Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: Is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials 1998, 17:1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Hesse J, Mogelvang B, Simonsen H: Acupuncture versus metoprolol in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized trial of trigger point inactivation. J Intern Med 1997, 235:451–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Manias P, Tagaris G, Karageorgiou K: Acupuncture in headache: a critical review. Clin J Pain 2000, 16:334–339. A good review.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Melchart D, Linde K, Fisher P, et al.: Acupuncture for Idiopathic Headache. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002, 4. An up-to-date review.

  44. Melchart D, Thormaehle J, Hager S, et al.: Acupuncture versus placebo versus sumatriptan for early treatment of migraine attack: a randomized controlled trial. J Intern Med 2003, 253:181–188.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Rivner MH: The neurophysiology of myofascial pain syndrome. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2001, 5:432–440.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Hong CZ, Simons DG: Pathophysiologic and electrophysiologic mechanisms of myofascial trigger points. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998, 79:863–872.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Melzack R: Myofascial tripper points: relation to acupuncture and mechanisms of pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1981, 62:114–117.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Melzack R, Stillwell DM, Fox EJ: Trigger points and acupuncture points for pain: correlations and implications. Pain 1997, 3:3–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Nabeta T, Kawakita K: Relief of chronic neck and shoulder pain by manual acupuncture to tender points: a shamcontrolled randomized trial. Complement Ther Med 2003, 10:217–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Maciocia G: Diagnosis. In The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 1989:174.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Irnich D, Behrens H, Gleditsch JM, et al.: Immediate effects of dry needling and acupuncture at distant points in chronic neck pain: results of a randomized, double-blind, shamcontrolled crossover trial. Pain 2002, 99:83–89.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Kung YY, Chen FP, Chaung KL, et al.: Evaluation of acupuncture effect to chronic myofascial pain syndrome in the cervical and upper back regions by the concept of Meridians. Acupunct Electrother Res 2001, 26:195–202.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physician Medicine and Rehabilitation, Outpatient Pain Services, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Integrative Care Center, The Osher Institute-Harvard Medical School, 101 Main Street, 02446, Boston, MA, USA

    Joseph F. Audette MA, MD

Authors
  1. Joseph F. Audette MA, MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Russell A. Blinder MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Audette, J.F., Blinder, R.A. Acupuncture in the management of myofascial pain and headache. Current Science Inc 7, 395–401 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-003-0040-2

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-003-0040-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation