The Role of Scalp Acupuncture for Relieving the Chronic Pain of Degenerative Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study of Egyptian Women

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic and painful condition secondary to deterioration of cartilage. OA-related pain can be managed pharmacologically together with complementary therapies, such as acupuncture. Objective: The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) for relieving pain associated with OA in Egyptian women. Design and Setting: At the Female Outpatient Pain Clinic, of the National Research Centre, in Cairo, Egypt, between March 2008 and June 2009, 30 females (ages 27-80) presenting with chronic pain caused by OA were studied. Intervention: The affected YNSA points were treated for 20 minutes in a single session. Main Outcome Measure: Pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS) prior to, and 1 hour after, the intervention. Results: Preintervention VAS scores were: 3-10 (mean 7.43 +/- 1.9; P > 0.05). Postintervention VAS scores ranged from 0 to 8 (mean 3.37 +/- N2.1) with a statistically significant positive correlation between these scores and pretreatment values (P = 0.01). Postintervention VAS scores were significantly related to pain locations. Post-hoc analysis showed statistically significant lower postintervention VAS scores for cervical OA, compared to those of lumbosacral OA. Conclusions: YNSA acupuncture is effective in immediate pain relief among females suffering from degenerative OA.