Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)combined with neural mobilization(NM)in the treatment of occipital neuralgia.Methods A total of 62 occipital neuralgia patients were randomized into EA group(19 cases)

NM group(22 cases)and EA+NM group(21 cases).EA was applied at acupoint-pairs as Yuzhen(BL 9)-Tianzhu(BL 10)

Fengchi(GB 20)-Wangu(GB 12)

etc.NM intervention consisted of occipital muscle group mobilization

C2 spinous process mobilization

cervical joint passive movement management mobilization

etc.

was performed at the impaired cervical spine segment.The two methods were used in combination for patients in the EA+NM group.All the treatment was given once a day for 2 weeks.Before and after treatment

the visual analogue scale(VAS)and the 6-point(1-6 points)behavioral rating scale(BRS-6)of headache were used to assess the severity of pain.The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the"Criteria for Diagnosis and Cure-Improvement of Clinical Conditions"formulated by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China in 1994.Results After treatment

both VAS and BRS-6 scores were significantly lower than those before treatment in each of the three groups(P<0.05)

and were significantly lower in the EA+NM group than in the simple EA and simple NM groups(P<0.01

P<0.05).The total effective rates were 78.95%(15/19)in the EA group

68.18%(15/22)in the NM group

and 90.48%(19/21)in the EA+NM group

with an obviously better therapeutic effect being in the EA+NM group relevant to each of the other two treatment groups(P<0.05).Conclusion EA

NM and EA combined with NM can improve symptoms of patients with occipital neuralgia

and EA+NM has a synergic analgesic effect for occipital neuralgia.