Shoulder pain: To needle or not to needle? The role of acupuncture in the treatment of shoulder pai

Completed

• Conditions: Shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Shoulder pain

• Registration Number: ISRCTN10708719
• Lead Sponsor: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-07-27
• Last Update Posted: 8 January 2018

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 234

Inclusion Criteria

1. Patients referred to physiotherapy departments who have pain in the region of their shoulder
2. Minimum duration of symptoms being 3 months
2. Being able fully communicate in English
3. A minimum age of 18 years

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pain referred from the cervical spine
2. A history of shoulder instability, subluxations, dislocations
3. Un-united fractures involving the shoulder
4. Malunion or non-union of fractures
5. Inability to participate in an exercise programme
6. Systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, uncontrolled blood pressure, cardiac disease, renal insufficiency, cardiac pacemakers, hearing aids
7. Women who are pregnant, attempting to become pregnant
8. Fear of needles (participants may be randomised to a group where acupuncture needles will be used).
9. Infections (systemic or local)
10. Fragile, swollen, thin or inflamed skin
11. Post-surgical lymphoedema
12. Known allergy to metals
13. Recent oral steroid therapy or shoulder injections
14. Epilepsy
15. Patients on anti-coagulation therapy
16. Patients with Hemophilia

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified