The effect of five-knee-point acupuncture combined with herbal package warm compress for knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect differences among five-knee-point acupuncture combined with Chinese medication package warm compress therapy of Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction (身痛逐瘀汤 generalized pain stasis-expelling decoction), simple five-knee-point acupuncture and simple Chinese medication package warm compress therapy of Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsA total of 126 KOA patients were randomized into a five-knee-point acupuncture combined with Chinese medication package warm compress therapy group (combined treatment group), where there were 42 cases, including 28 cases of unilateral KOA and 14 cases of bilateral KOA, totally 56 affected knees involved, a Chinese medication package warm compress therapy group (medication package group, 42 cases, including 22 cases of unilateral KOA, 20 cases of bilateral KOA, totally 62 affected knees involved) and a five-knee-point acupuncture group (five-knee-point group, 42 cases, including 27 cases of unilateral KOA, 15 cases of bilateral KOA, totally 57 affected knees involved). The basic health education was provided in all of the groups. Additionally, in the combined treatment group, acupuncture was applied to the five knee points on the affected side for 30 min. The warm compress with herbal package of Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction was given for 10 to 15 min. In the medication package group, the warm compress with Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction was exerted on the affected area for 10 to 15 min. In the five-knee-point group, acupuncture was applied to SP 10, ST 34, EX-LE 2, EX-LE 4 and ST 35 and the needles were retained for 30 min. The treatment in each group was given once a day, consecutively for 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lysholm knee scale were adopted to evaluate the pain degree and knee joint motor function in KOA patients. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated too. ResultsA total of 121 cases accomplished the final observation and 5 cases were dropped out in the three groups, in which, 2 cases (2 affected knees) were dropped out in the combined treatment group, 1 case (2 affected knees) in the medication package group and 2 cases (3 affected knees) in the five-knee-point group. VAS scores after treatment were all lower than those before treatment in the three groups and the scores of Lysholm knee scale were all higher than those before treatment, indicating the significant differences (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 98.1% (53/54) in the combined treatment group, which was higher than 86.7% (52/60) in the medication package group and 92.6% (50/54) in the five-knee-point group, indicating the significant differences (all P < 0.05). After treatment, VAS score (2.24 ± 1.24) in the combined medication group was lower than (2.48 ± 1.38) in the medication package group and (2.63 ± 1.44) in the five-knee-point group, presenting the significant difference (all P < 0.05). The score of Lysholm knee scale was (60.50 ± 13.76) in the combined medication group, higher than (52.23 ± 11.65) in the medication package group and (52.14 ± 11.77) in the five-knee-point group, indicting the significant differences (all P < 0.05). ConclusionCompared with the simple application of Chinese medication package warm compress therapy of Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction or the five-knee-point acupuncture therapy, five-knee-point acupuncture combined with Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction relieves the clinical symptoms of KOA patients more effectively and achieves a better clinical therapeutic effect.