Evaluation Of Auricular Taping Therapy Efficacy On Knee Osteoarthritis And Conventional Medication Therapy

Background:According to the traditional Chinese medicine theory,knee osteoarthritis pain belongs to Bi syndrome.Bi refers to stiffness and obstruction of circulation of Qi and Blood in the meridians.Bi syndrome manifests as pain,numbness or heaviness in muscles,tendons,bones and joints in addition to mobility impairment or deformation of these structures.Arthritis pain from Bony Bi syndrome is one of the most common reasons for patients to look for treatment with acupuncture and herbs with or without the use of western therapeutics.In the United States,the prevalence of OA of the knee is 10%in men and 13%in women in millions among adults 60 years or older in 2010.Auricular Taping therapy may play an important role in pain management.However,there is little scientific evidence to validate the clinical effects of Auricular Taping Therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis pain.The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of auriculotherapy on pain,mobility,and quality of life measures in the patients having KOA.Objective:To evaluation of Auricular Taping Therapy efficacy on knee osteoarthritis pain and conventional medication therapy.Method:The present study is a randomized clinical trial(RCT)performed at the clinic,shiraz,Iran,from June 2018 to March 2019.this study all of 46 participants were randomly divided into two groups,Auricular Taping Therapy and control group took MedicationAuricular Taping Therapy were used in the study group at ear acupoint named AH4,that is the correspondent point for the knee.In the case of knee osteoarthritis,the point is tender when manipulation or pressure is exerted.After three or four days,ATT must be changed.Participants in the medication group will take standard dosage(celecoxib tab 100mg two times per day)for overall 4 weeks as well.Results:The results of WOMAC revealed no significant differences statistically before intervention(P-value=0.152),at posttest(P-value=0.981)and at follow-up(P-value=0.063)between two groups.The results of WOMAC scores at pretest,posttest and follow-up in Acupuncture group using repeated measure ANOVA test in pretest(Mean±SD=61.82±13.33),in posttest(Mean±SD=40.26±12.28),and in follow-up(Mean±SD=50.69±12.68)showed significant differences between pretest and posttest(P=0.000),and follow-up(P=0.000),and also between posttest and follow-up(P=0.000)in WOMAC scores(P=0.000).Similar tests in the medication group revealed almost the same results statistically,in that Mean±SD ANOVA test in baseline,posttest and follow-up were as 67.13±11.27,40.17±12.60 and 58.26±14.13 separately)showing significant difference between pretest and posttest,pretest and follow-up(P=0.000),and also between posttest and follow-up(P＝0.001).Mean and standard deviation for VAS score at baseline and after each session of treatment and at follow-up in Acupuncture group showed,the results were significantly different(P = 0.000).However,the test also revealed VAS score significantly increased in follow-up session in comparison to all sessions(P<0.05),though the VAS score in follow-up was significantly reduced compared with baseline(P=0.000).The results of repeated measure ANOVA test in the Medication group in ten times,confirmed significant differences in VAS scores(P=0.000).Meanwhile The results of Bonferroni post hoc test sh owed that VAS score significantly reduced after all sessions in comparison to baseline(P=0.000).VAS score significantly increased in follow-up session in comparison to all sessions(P<0.05),However,the VAS score in follow-up was significantly reduced in comparison to baseline(P=0.000).Applying independent sample t-test showed VAS parameter in two groups at baseline,after treatment sessions and at the follow-up does not have significant differences at baseline(P=0.999),and after treatments(P=0.719).Conclusion:Auricular Taping Therapy(ATT)and conventional medication therapy using NSAIDs(specifically Celecoxib)both are efficient in the management of knee osteoarthritis,but the former has longer resolving effect on the KOA than the latter.