CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Neck pain - non-specific - Management
Basis for recommendation
- These recommendations are based on expert opinion in a primary care textbook [Williams and Hoving, 2004] and review articles [Binder, 2007a; Binder, 2007b].
- Moderate evidence indicates that acupuncture has clinical treatment benefits, but the effects are short term.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be done in the presence of widespread neurological symptoms or signs [Williams and Hoving, 2004]. The result should be interpreted with care because although MRI is the investigation of choice when a more serious abnormality is suspected, normal people also have abnormalities on MRI [Binder, 2007b]. For example, asymptomatic disc protrusions are present in 10–15% of the population [Williams and Hoving, 2004].
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement