Hafizul Azad MA

Al Zaabi Health care Group, Abu Dhabi UAE

Abstract Title:Comparative Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Physiotherapy in the Management of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Trial

Biography: Mr. Hafizul Azad Malmintakam is the Head of the Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Department at Adam & Eve Specialized Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi, with over 20 years of experience in the UAE and internationally. He holds a Bachelor's in Physiotherapy, an MSc in Acupuncture, Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science and Fellow ship in Oteopathy and Manipulative therapy.. Mr. Azad is certified in Mulligan Concept, McKenzie Method, Dry Needling, Kinesio Taping, Cupping Therapy, and Integrated Manual Therapy. He pioneered non-surgical spinal decompression therapy in Abu Dhabi's private sector and has established HAAD- and JCI-compliant physiotherapy departments, notably at ADNOC Ruwais Hospital. His contributions have earned him multiple awards in clinical research and paper presentations.

Research Interest: Comparative Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Physiotherapy in the Management of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Trial Background: Chronic neck pain is a prevalent condition that often impairs daily activities and quality of life. Both acupuncture and physiotherapy are widely used treatments, but direct comparisons of their effectiveness remain limited. Objective: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of acupuncture versus physiotherapy in the management of chronic non-inflammatory neck pain. Methods: 30 adult patients with neck pain lasting longer than six weeks, without neurological deficits, were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture (n=35) or physiotherapy (n=35). Outcome measures included pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale and Neck Pain Questionnaire), range of neck motion improvement, and general well-being (General Health Questionnaire). Assessments were conducted at baseline, first day ,3 weeks, 6 weeks and six months. Results: Both treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements across all measured outcomes. Acupuncture was more effective among patients presenting with higher baseline pain scores compared to TENS, US. However, the absence of an untreated control group limited the ability to quantify the absolute treatment effects. Conclusion: Acupuncture and physiotherapy are both effective modalities for managing chronic neck pain. Acupuncture may offer additional benefits in patients with more severe initial symptoms. Further studies incorporating control groups are recommended to better define the magnitude of these treatment effects. Keywords: Chronic neck pain, acupuncture, physiotherapy, randomized controlled trial, pain management.