Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine iontophoresis in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine iontophoresis in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA). Methods Fifty-six patients with KOA were randomized into the drug therapy group(n=28)receiving only traditional Chinese medicine iontophoresis therapy for four weeks and the combined treatment group(n=28)receiving extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine iontophoresis therapy for four weeks.WOMAC score as an specific severity-of-illness score was used to evaluate knee joint function of patients before and four-week after treatment. Results WOMAC scores of all patients were significantly decreased which indicated states of an illness were improved after four-week treatment as compared with pre-treatment(all P<0.05). The combined treatment group versus the drug therapy group showed markedly lower WOMAC scores, including pain score(3.17±1.03 vs.5.27±1.58, t=7.316, P<0.05), morning stiffness score(2.23±0.91 vs.3.32±1.14, t=3.440, P<0.05), activity restrict of daily living score(20.13±6.46 vs.27.35±13.28, t=4.691, P<0.05)and total score(28.37±11.62 vs.40.16±5.93, t=8.015, P<0.05). Conclusions Compared with single traditional Chinese medicine iontophoresis, the extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine iontophoresis therapy may significantly reduce the pain and morning stiffness degree, and enhance activities of daily living in elderly patients with KOA. Key words: Osteoarthritis, knee; Iontophoresis; High-energy shock waves