Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy (NCT07150234) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy
168 participantsStarted 2025-09-10
Plain-language summary
This study will be an evaluation of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. The main questions it aims to answer are 1. Does acupuncture improve the pain intensity among patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy? 2. Does acupuncture treat cervical spondylotic radiculopathy safely? Researchers will compare acupuncture to sham acupuncture to see if acupuncture could improve symptoms among patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Experimental and control groups will be treated with 6 weeks of acupuncture or sham-acupuncture respectively. Patients were followed up at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after treatment to record outcome, any disease progression, adverse events, and so on.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Age is 18-75 years old;
. Patients meets the diagnostic criteria of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and the discomfort such as pain and numbness only radiates to one upper limb (unilateral);
. NRS score of the average 24h arm pain/numbness in the last week was ≥4;
. The course of disease is ≥6 weeks;
. Patients voluntarily participate in the study and sign the informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
. Those with tumors, connective tissue diseases, rheumatism, spinal cord diseases, fractures, vertebral dislocation, metabolic and endocrine diseases (paget's disease, osteoporosis), other neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, transverse myelitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, brachial plexus neuropathy), vascular related diseases (carotid artery dysfunction, arteriovenous fistula or deformity), inflammation(rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis) and infectious diseases (osteomyelitis, abscess, discitis, Lyme disease, herpes zoster, meningitis), etc.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Clinical response rate
Timeframe: At 6 weeks from randomization.
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07150234
SponsorGuang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
. Those with diseases such as scapulohumeral periarthritis, thoracic outlet syndrome, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. that cause upper limb pain or discomfort;
. Those with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy whose condition is in a rapidly progressive stage;
. Those received systematic comprehensive conservative treatment fails for three months, the conservative treatment includes physical therapy (fixation, traction, manipulation, exercise, ultrasound and infrared), drugs (ibuprofen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentin, pregabalin, antidepressants, etc.) and nerve block;
. Those with ankylosis of vertebral joints;
. Those neurological impairment (such as muscular atrophy and sensory disturbance);
. Those with congenital abnormality of cervical vertebra;
. Those with head and neck injuries and surgical history;