OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy on superior cluneal nerve entrapment syndrome treated by relaxation therapy of in-row multi-needling technique. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases were randomized into a multi-needling group, an acupotomy group and a conventional acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one. In the multi-needling group, the perpendicular or oblique puncture was applied to the affected area of the lumbar and gluteal region. The chief needling sites were determined in terms of the strong response of acupuncture to be the chief points. The in-row multi-needling technique was applied around the chief needling sites, with lifting, thrusting penetrating method to different directions. Two chief points were connected with the G6805 low frequency pulse therapeutic apparatus. In the acupotomy group, the acupotomy was applied to 3 to 4 affected sites in each treatment. In the conventional acupuncture group, Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Jiaji (EX-B 2) in the lumbar region, Zhibian (BL 54) and the others were selected and connected with the G6805 low frequency pulse therapeutic apparatus. The cases in each group were treated for 4 weeks. The improvements of pain score, therapeutic efficacy and comprehensive satisfaction assessment were compared among 3 groups in 2 and 4 weeks of treatment separately. RESULTS: The pain scores in each group were reduced apparently in 2 and 4 weeks of treatment separately (all P<0.05), and the pain score in the acupotomy group was lower than that in the conventional acupuncture group in 2 weeks of treatment. In 4 weeks of treatment, the pain scores in the multi-needling group and the acupotomy group were lower than that in the conventional acupuncture group (both P<0.05) and the pain score in the multi-needling group was lower than that in the acupotomy group (P<0.05). In 2 weeks of treatment, the remarkable effective rate in the acupotomy group was 62.5% (25/40), which was superior significantly to 25.0% (10/40) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0.05). The other differences among the groups were not significant statistically in comparison. In 4 weeks of treatment, the remarkable effective rate was 90. 0% (36/40) in the multi-needling group and was 67.5% (27/40) in the acupotomy group, which were superior to 35.0% (14/40) in the conventional acupuncture group (both P<0.05). The remarkably effective rate in the multi-needling group was better than that in the acupotomy group (P<0.05). The satisfaction for the patients in the multi-needling group was higher obviously than that in any of the other two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The relaxation therapy of in-row multi-needling technique achieves the definite therapeutic effect on superior cluneal nerve entrapment syndrome. The efficacy is superior to acupotomy and the conventional acupuncture. The therapeutic effect is better for the cases of the extensive affected scope, unclear location and large distribution in patches caused by the adhesion of muscles and fascia especially.