Clinical Observation On Treatment Of Knee Joint Osteoarthritis In Early And Middle Cases With Electro - Acupuncture

Objective:To observe the clinical effects of electrothermal acupuncture in patients with medium-term knee osteoarthritis via randomized controlled trial in order to provide a safer and more effective therapeutic regimen for this disease.Methods:A total 150 patients with medium-term knee osteoarthritis were enrolled in this study based on the inclusion criteria and they were divided into treatment group and control group according to a random number table,75 in each group. The electrothermal acupuncture was used in the treatment group. Patients took acupoints of dubi, xiyan, yanglingquan, yinlingquan, xuehai and liangqu. Administration of Xianlinggubao capsules was used in the control group, twice a day and 3 capsules each time. Compliance was observed and safety was evaluated (vital signs and adverse events) at the same time of treatment. Clinical effects were investigated 4 weeks after treatment in two groups and WOMAC scores included the joint pain, degree of stiffness and activities & function, etc.Results:1.The joint pain, degree of stiffness and activities & function are improved after treatment in both treatment group and control group. The difference has statistical significance (P＜0.05) from that before treatment.2.The joint pain, degree of stiffness and activities & function in the treatment group are superior to control group after treatment. The difference has statistical significance (P＜0.05).3.By considering the overall clinical effects, the overall response rate is 90.41% in the treatment group while 79.71% in the control group. The treatment group is superior to control group. The difference has statistical significance (P＜0.05).Furthermore, experiment-related adverse reactions have not turned up during the trial in both treatment group and control group, which indicates both groups have a higher safety.Conclution:Both electrothermal acupuncture and administration of Xianlinggubao capsules can improve the joint pain, degree of stiffness and activities & function in patients with medium-term knee osteoarthritis. But the electrothermal acupuncture group is superior to control group. The electrothermal acupuncture is safe and effective in treating patients with medium-term knee osteoarthritis. The operation is simple and convenient. It is cheap and worthy of popularization and application.