Needles work on neck pain

Acupuncture works better than massage as a short-term treatment for chronic neck pain, German researchers have found.

The ancient Chinese treatment, in which needles are used to stimulate pressure points, has shown to ease nausea and depression, but previous studies of its impact on neck pain have been inconclusive.

Doctors at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, who compared acupuncture and massage on 177 patients, found the popular complementary therapy quickly improved mobility and made patients feel better.

"Acupuncture is a safe, effective form of treatment for chronic neck pain," said Dr Dominik Irnich, a researcher at the university.

- REUTERS