| Objective and significanceThe needle retaining time in acupuncture therapy is not clearly defined in the present clinical practice, regardless of both ancient literatures and contemporary researches have showed that different needle retaining times have influence on the curative effect. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disease for its incidence rate is high in the elderly population. The symptoms of pain and joint dysfunction seriously affect the quality of life of patients. This study aimed at observing the differences on curative effect between different needle retaining times of acupuncture in the treatment of KOA, in order to explore the relationship between needle retaining time and curative effect of acupuncture, in hope of observing a better needle retaining time in the treatment of KOA, and further contribute to the study of intensity dependent of acupuncture effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).MethodsAs a randomized controlled trial (RCT),80 cases of KOA patients are divided into 2 groups equally according to random number table method. All of the patients were treated with same acupuncture therapy for 20 times, except for the needle retaining times are different as 30 minutes and 45 minutes. Using visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index on the 80 patients before and after treatments for therapeutic evaluation, compare the data of 2 groups by statistical methods, in order to find the differences on curative effect between different needle retaining times of acupuncture in the treatment of KOA.Results(1) After the treatment, the VAS scores of both groups have decreased significantly, and the 45min group has decreased much more, for the differences are statistically significant (P<0.05);(2) After the treatment, the WOMAC scores of both groups have decreased significantly, and the 45min group has decreased much more, for the differences are statistically significant (P<0.05);(3) The rate of improvement of the 45min group is higher than the 30min group, for the differences are statistically significant (P<0.05);(4) There is statistically significantly difference between the overall curative effects of 2 groups (P<0.05). The cure rate and obvious effective rate of the 45min group are higher than the 30min group, for the differences are statistically significant (P<0.05). There is no significant difference between the total effective rates of 2 groups, for the difference is not statistically significant (P> 0.05).Conclusion(1) In acupuncture treatment of KOA, both 30 minutes and 45 minutes of needle retaining times have analgesic effects, and 45 minutes of needle retaining time has better analgesic effect than 30minutes;(2) In acupuncture treatment of KOA, both 30 minutes and 45 minutes of needle retaining times have curative effects in pain, stiffness, joint function, and 45 minutes of needle retaining time has better curative effect than 30minutes;(3) In acupuncture treatment of KOA,45 minutes of needle retaining times has better symptom improvement effect than 30 minutes;(4) In acupuncture treatment of KOA,45 minutes of needle retaining times has better curative effect than 30 minutes, the cure rate and obvious effective rate are higher, however the total effective rate has no significant difference.In this study, observed that the needle retaining time of acupuncture in the treatment of KOA had a certain influence on the curative effect. In a certain range of time, the longer needle retaining time had the better curative effect. Therefore, as appropriate reference, clinical physicians could consider extend the needle retaining time in the acupuncture treatment of KOA, according to their own conditions. Also through this study suggests:the intensity dependent of acupuncture effect is indeed an important part of modern acupuncture science, and the needle retaining time as one of the parameters of acupuncture affects the curative effect of acupuncture treatment. Hence it is of great significance to explore the most suitable needle retaining time. |
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