Acupuncture is effective in helping people suffering neck pain, a review of evidence has concluded.
Some sceptics have claimed any benefit from using the technique is down to a patient’s expectation that the treatment will work - a placebo effect.
Now a group of researchers has analysed ten trials, with a total of 661 patients, which investigated whether acupuncture alleviated neck pain.
It is estimated that between 26 per cent and 71 per cent of adults suffer neck pain or stiffness.
The Canadian researchers said that in many cases, pain could last for months.
The review found that overall, people who received acupuncture reported better pain relief immediately after treatment than those who received dummy treatments, such as laser methods with the machines switched off, or acupuncture with the needles inserted in the wrong places.
