A Clinical Study Of Laser Acupuncture On The3-Knee Points For Patients With Functional Impairments After MIS-TKA

ObjectiveThe aim of this study, compared with sham laser acupuncture, was to investigate the effect of laser acupuncture on Jin’s3-knee points in middle-aged and elderly adults after minimally invasive surgery total knee arthroplasty (MIS-TKA) and analyze the effectiveness of influence factors to preliminarily assess the possibility of clinical application for MIS-TKA patients to persist rehabilitation so as to reduce adhesion, improve range of motion and increase the profit of total knee arthroplasty surgery. In addition, shortening of the length of stay after operation contributes to reduce medical expenses.MethodOn the basis of inclusion criteria, a total of sixty patients were recruited in this study. They were randomly allocated into experimental (treatment group), control(sham group) or control-experimental groups with20participants in each. Conventional physical therapy programs and NSAIDs of the same mechanism were given to all participants. Besides, the experimental group assumed laser acupuncture on the3-knee points(Liangqiu(ST34), Xuehai (SP10), Xiyan (extra))for four weeks while the control group receiving sham laser acupuncture. The control-experimental group was applied in the first session with two-week sham laser acupuncture and followed by the second session with two-week laser acupuncture. Before and after the first session treatment, the outcome measurement was taken. The same measurement was taken after the second session treatment. The variables measured included WOMAC score, HSS score, knee range of motion, knee circumference, timed up and go test(TUGT).ResultsResults using ANOVA and ANCOVA showed a total WOMAC score was decreased in three groups of patients receiving minimally invasive surgery total knee arthroplasty (MIS-TKA) after the first session and significant difference was found (P=0.014). To analyze the items of pain and stiffness, the experimental group was more effective than the control group(P<0.05). Increase of total HSS score was also noted(P=0.016). To analyze the item of pain, the experimental group was more effective than the control group(P<0.05). Taking measurements of knee range of motion, knee circumference timed up and go test, all of the three groups exhibited improvement, but there were not significantly different within groups (P>0.05).A total WOMAC score was decreased in three groups of patients receiving minimally invasive surgery total knee arthroplasty (MIS-TKA) after the second session and significant difference was found (P=0.000). To analyze the items of pain, stiffness and physical function, the experimental group was more effective than the control group(P<0.05). Increase of total HSS score was also noted (P=0.000). To analyze the items of pain and function, the experimental group was more effective than the control group (P<0.05). Taking measurements of knee range of motion, knee circumference timed up and go test, all of the three groups exhibited improvement in the second session and the control-experimental group experienced effectiveness in comparison with the control group, while in terras of timed up and go test (TUGT), there were not significantly different within groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated a beneficial effect of laser acupuncture on the3-knee points, the effectiveness was shown on pain, stiffness and physical function. The findings can provide leads for investigations of using laser acupuncture for patients with functional impairments after receiving minimally invasive surgery total knee arthroplasty (MIS-TKA) in the future.