Acupuncture treatment of the knee osteoarthritis not only
relieves pain and improves joint flexibility but induces a sustainable therapeutic
effect, according to a study published in the journal Zhongguo Zhen Jiu
(Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
Conventional treatment to knee osteoarthritis often
includes pain killer which only temporarily reliefs the symptoms and has many
adverse effects with prolonged use. Many patients with the condition often seek
alternative therapies. Acupuncture is a very popular choice.
Scientists in China conducted a non-randomized clinical
study to assess the efficacy of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis. Ninety-seven
patients with knee osteoarthritis were given acupuncture at acupoints ST34, ST35,
ST36, GB33, GB34, SP9, SP10 and EX-LE4, for 30 min, once a day for 4 weeks. Western
Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) and Visual Analogue
Scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the changes in stiffness, physical function
and pain intensity prior and following the treatment and at 4-week follow-up.
It was found that stiffness, pain intensity and physical function were all
significantly improved compared with baseline and control groups by the end of
4-week acupuncture. A 4-week follow-up assessment showed that all improvements
were sustainable and were not significantly different from the end of treatment
evaluation. There was no adverse effect reported.
The study provides evidence that acupuncture exerts a
sustainable therapeutic effect on knee osteoarthritis.
Referece:
Dai Z et al., [Efficacy
evaluation on knee osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture: non-randomized
concurrent control trial]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2014 Apr;34(4):329-33. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24946628
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