Moxibustion For Treating Knee Osteoarthritis:A Double-blinded,Double-dummy,randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveTaking knee osteoarthritis as the research vehicle,to assess the effect of moxibustion compared with topical diclofenac sodium gel in treating KOA.MethodsA multicentre,double-blinded,double-placebo,randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in this study.Eligible participants with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to two different groups in a 1:1 ratio.Participants in the treatment group underwent active moxibustion plus placebo gel while the participants in the control group received diclofenac sodium gel plus placebo moxibustion.Participants in both groups received 12 sessions of active/placebo moxibustion over 4 weeks at 3acupoints(ST35,ST36,EX-LE4).In addition,either diclofenac sodium gel or placebo gel was applied 4 grams per knee,3 times per day for 4 weeks.The whole study period was 9 weeks,with a 1-week run-in period,4-week treatment phase,and4-week follow-up phase.The primary outcome measure was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)score change at the end of intervention period from baseline.The secondary outcome measures included changes of other subscales(pain,stiffness,and function)of WOMAC,Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)and Patient Global Assessment(PGA).Results1.The demographic and baseline parameters showed that the 2 groups were comparable at baseline(P>0.05).2.In week 2,all the evaluation indexes of two groups were significant different from baseline(P<0.05)except the values of WOMAC stiffness(P>0.05).There were significant differences between the values of VAS in two groups(P<0.05),other evaluation indexes showed no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05).3.In week 4,all the evaluation indexes of two groups were significant different from baseline(P<0.05).The WOMAC global scores,physical function scores and PGA showed greater improvement in the treatment group than in the control group,(P<0.05),other evaluation indexes showed no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05).4.In week 8,all the evaluation indexes of two groups were significant different from baseline(P<0.05)without the values of WOMAC stiffness in the control group(P>0.05).There were significant differences between the values(WOMAC pain,WOMAC stiffness,VAS and PGA)in two groups(P<0.05),other evaluation indexes showed on significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).ConclusionMoxibustion can reduce pain and improve physical function in patients with KOA for up to 4 weeks after the end of treatment.The short-term effects of moxibustion on pain relief and physical function improvement were better than diclofenac sodium gel as did prostecdtive efficacy of pain relief and stiffness improvement.