The Light And Heat Of Moxibustion For Knee Osteoarthritis:A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveThis study focused on patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA).It used a multi-center,randomized,and controlled clinical research method to evaluate the clinical efficacy of light and heat effects of moxibustion in KOA treatment,and to clarify the effect factors that play a major role in the clinical efficacy of moxibustion in the treatment of KOA.MethodsThis study is a multi-center,randomized,controlled trial.The subjects came from five research centers in Chengdu,Chongqing,Zibo,Xi'an,and Nanjing.216 subjects were randomly divided into the traditional moxibustion group(64 cases,8 cases of shedding),the moxibustion light group(63 cases,9 cases of shedding)and the moxibustion heat group(62 cases,10 cases of shedding).All subjects received full moxibustion,moxibustion light or moxibustion heat.The three groups were treated for 20 minutes each time,3 times a week,for 4 weeks of continuous treatment,and were followed up 4 and 8 weeks after the end of treatment.Three groups of subjects were evaluated using the Western Ontario and Mc Master University Osteoarthritis Index Score(WOMAC)and Visual Analog Scale(VAS)before treatment,2 weeks,4 weeks,and the first and second follow-up time,and used Patient Global Assessment(PGA)as the index of efficacy evaluation at 4 weeks of treatment and at the second follow-up.Results1.216 subjects were included in this study,27 of whom were dropped off,and 189 were completed(64 in the traditional moxibustion group,63 in the moxibustion light group,and 62 in the moxibustion heat group).There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics,disease duration,WOMAC score,and VAS score between the three groups before treatment(P>0.05),indicating that the three groups of subjects had the same baseline period and were comparable.2.The evaluation results of the WOMAC scale show that in the three groups of subjects,the total score of WOMAC and the subscales of pain,stiffness,and function and VAS scores were all higher at 2 weeks,4 weeks of treatment,and the first and second follow-up than those before treatment(P?0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment,the total score of WOMAC and the subscales of pain and function of the traditional moxibustion group were lower than those of the moxibustion light group(P?0.05).3.The evaluation results of VAS scale showed that the VAS scale scores of the three groups of subjects at 2 weeks,4 weeks,the first follow-up and the second follow-up than the VAS scale scores before treatment(P?0.05).Comparing the VAS scale scores of three groups,there was no significant difference in the VAS scale scores at 2 weeks,4 weeks,the first follow-up,and the second follow-up(P>0.05).4.After 4 weeks of treatment and the second follow-up,the total effective rate [93.7%(60/64),87.5%(56/64)] better than the heat group [91.9%(57/62),82.3%(51/62)],and better than the light group [82.5 %(52/63),63.5%(40/63)].Conclusion1.Both light and heat factors of moxibustion have therapeutic effects on knee osteoarthritis,and they can alleviate the pain of patients with knee osteoarthritis,reduce stiffness and improve knee joint function.2.In the treatment of knee osteoarthritis,moxibustion heat factor is more effective than moxibustion light factor.