The aim of this study was to compare the treatment efficacies of superficial acupuncture and traditional acupuncture on trigger\npoints of the upper trapezius muscle. Forty people were recruited and randomly allocated to the traditional and superficial\nacupuncture groups. Each subject received two treatments per week in a four-week period. Outcomes were measured by visual\nanalogue scale (VAS), the Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire scores (NPQ), and pressure pain threshold (PPT) assessments\nof trigger points. Data collected before the interventions were considered as baseline. Assessments were performed after the first\ntreatment and at the end of the second and fourth weeks of treatment. Patients reported significant (p<0.05) and immediate\nimprovements in VAS and PPT for both superficial acupuncture and traditional acupuncture after the first treatment and after two\nand four weeks. Significant improvements (p<0.05) in NPQ were attained after two weeks of treatments in both groups. Because\nsuperficial acupuncture is associated with less pain while producing immediate pain relief, we recommend it for treatingmyofascial\npain syndrome in the upper trapezius muscle.
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