Efficacy observation on degenerative gonitis treated with triple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of degenerative gonitis treated with triple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion for better promotion and clinical application. MethodsNinety-eight patients with degenerative gonitis were randomly divided into a thunder-fire moxibustion group (group A) and an acupuncture group (group B) according to randon number table, with forty-nine cases in each group. In group A, Nèixīyan (▪ EX-LE 4), Dúbí (▪ ST 35), Yánglíngquán (▪ GB 34), Xuèhai(▪ SP 10), Liángqiū (▪ ST 34), Zúsānli (▪ ST 36), Yīnlíngquán (▪ SP 9) and Xīyángguān (▪ GB 33) were selected to accept triple and needling thunder-fire moxibustion for 20 min after the needles were retained for 40 min. The patients in group B were only treated with acupuncture. Thunder-fire moxibustion was not applied in the group B. The treatment was given once a day for four weeks. Knee function score and knee stiffness score in both groups were recorded before and after treatment, and the therapeutic effect was assessed. ResultsAfter four weeks' treatment, the total effective rate of group A was 93.9% (46/49), which was superior to 71.4% (35/49) in group B (P<0.05). Improvement in knee stiffness in group A was superior to that in group B (P<0.01). ConclusionTriple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion had clinical efficacy on degenerative gonitis, which is a better treatment option with the total efficacy significantly superior to that of acupuncture only.