Comparative Effects of Acupressure Versus Acupuncture on Musculoskeletal Pain

Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, affecting physical function, work productivity, and overall quality of life. Conventional management strategies include pharmacological analgesics, physical therapy, and interventional procedures; however, long-term medication use may be associated with adverse effects and incomplete symptom relief. As a result, complementary therapies such as acupressure and acupuncture have gained increasing attention in pain management. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific acupoints to stimulate physiological responses, whereas acupressure applies manual pressure to the same or similar points without needle penetration. Both techniques are rooted in traditional East Asian medicine and are believed to modulate pain through neurophysiological mechanisms. This comparative study examines the effectiveness of acupressure and acupuncture in alleviating musculoskeletal pain, including conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis.