The Efficacy and Safety of Shoulder Motion Style Acupuncture Treatment (MSAT) on in Patients With Shoulder Pain Caused by Traffic Accidents

This study will test the effectiveness and safety of Motion Style Acupuncture Treatment (MSAT) for shoulder pain caused by traffic accidents. About 98 hospitalized patients with acute shoulder pain after a traffic accident will take part. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: MSAT + integrative Korean medicine group (acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, Chuna therapy, plus MSAT), or Integrative Korean medicine only group (acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, Chuna therapy). MSAT involves inserting needles into the shoulder area and gently moving the joint to improve pain relief and mobility. All treatments used in this study are standard care in Korean medicine. The main outcomes are pain reduction, shoulder movement, daily function, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. Safety will also be monitored by recording any side effects such as temporary soreness, bruising, or discomfort. Treatment will be provided during hospitalization (up to 5 days), and patients will be followed up by phone at 2 weeks and 1 month after enrollment. The results of this trial will help determine whether adding MSAT to standard integrative Korean medicine treatment provides greater benefit for patients with acute shoulder pain after traffic accidents.

Inclusion Criteria: Adults aged 19 to 70 years Hospitalized with shoulder pain within 5 days after a traffic accident Shoulder pain intensity ≥ 5 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) with observed limitation of movement Able and willing to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Serious conditions causing shoulder pain (e.g., malignant tumor, infection) Progressive or severe neurological deficits Recent shoulder surgery or procedure within 3 weeks Shoulder pain mainly due to non-shoulder disorders (e.g., fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, gout) Contraindications to MSAT (e.g., fracture, dislocation, ligament rupture or instability, severe inflammation) Chronic diseases interfering with assessment (e.g., cardiovascular disease, renal disease, diabetic neuropathy, dementia, epilepsy) Current use of steroids, immunosuppressants, psychiatric drugs, or other medications that may affect results Contraindications to acupuncture (e.g., bleeding disorders, anticoagulant use, severe diabetes, severe cardiovascular disease) Pregnant or planning pregnancy Severe psychiatric illness Participation in another interventional clinical trial Unable to provide informed consent Any other condition deemed inappropriate by the investigator