[Effect of acupuncture on knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score in patients with knee osteoarthritis].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical effect of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Forty-two patients with KOA were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a sham acupuncture group (21 cases, 1 case dropped off). The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with routine acupuncture at 5-6 local acupoints [Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Heding (EX-LE 2), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), etc.] and 3-4 distal acupoints [Fengshi (GB 31), Waiqiu (GB 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Zulinqi (GB 41), etc.]. The patients in the sham acupuncture group were treated with shallow needling technique at non-acupoint. The needles were retained for 30 min in both groups. All the treatment was given three times a week for 8 weeks. Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) were recorded before and after treatment and 18-week follow-up. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the scores of 5 dimensions of KOOS [pain, symptoms (except pain), daily activities, sports and entertainment, and quality of life] were increased after treatment and during follow-up in the two groups (P<0.05), and the scores of pain and daily activities in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the sham acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can reduce the pain symptoms and improve daily activities in patients with KOA.