VARIATION IN NECK PAIN INTENSITY AFTER ACUPUNCTURE ACCORDING TO THE YAMAMOTO METHOD (YNSA)

Abstract

The general objective of this study was to analyze changes in pain intensity in patients with neck pain before and after the application of acupuncture according to the Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) method, using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) as the assessment instrument. The study employed a longitudinal, exploratory, quantitative, and quasi-experimental approach, with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The sample consisted of 40 adult participants with neck pain, selected through non-probability convenience sampling. The results showed a progressive reduction in the mean intensity of neck pain over the three sessions. In the first session, the mean Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score decreased from 5.35 to 1.23; in the second session, from 4.05 to 0.57; and in the third session, from 2.40 to 0.20. It was also found that, after the third session, 87.5% of the participants reported no neck pain, while the remaining participants presented only residual values corresponding to mild pain. These results suggest a favorable progression of neck pain following the application of the YNSA protocol. This study may contribute to expanding knowledge about the application of YNSA in the management of neck pain and provide a basis for future investigations with greater methodological rigor.