Therapeutic effect observation on thumb-tack needling for knee osteoarthritis in elderly patients: A radom control trial 揿针治疗老年膝关节骨性关节炎疗效观察： 随机对照试验

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of the thumb-tack needling therapy on knee joint pain and joint function in the elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and compared with medication. MethodsA total of 60 patients were randomized into a thumb-tack needling group and a medication group, 30 cases in each one. In the thumb-tack needling group, the therapy with the thumb-tack needle retaining and waiting for qi was adopted. The acupoints were Hèdĭng (EX-LE2鹤顶), Nèixīyăn (内膝眼EX-LE4), Dúbí (犊鼻ST35), Xuèhăi (血海SP10), Liángqiū (梁丘ST34) and Ashi points on the affected side. The needles were retained for 24 h. This therapy was given once every two days, 3 times a week. The treatment for 2 weeks was as one course and consecutive 2 courses of treatment were required. In the medication group, diclofenac sodium sustained release tablets were taken orally, 75 mg each time, once daily, consecutively for 4 weeks. Successively, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) at the affected knee before treatment, after treatment and 3 months after treatment as well as Lequesne indicator before and after treatment were evaluated. The clinical therapeutic effect was observed in the patients of the two groups after treatment. Results(1) After treatment, VAS scores were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (both P < 0.05). After treatment, VAS score in the thumb-tack needling group was lower than that in the medication group (P < 0.05). (2) After treatment, the scores of all the items of Lequesne indices reduced as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the both groups, indicating significance differences (all P < 0.05). After treatment, compared with the medication group, the score of pain, morning stiffness and walking ability as well as the total score were all lower in the thumb-tack needling group, indicating significant differences (all P < 0.05). (3) The curative and remarkably effective rate and the total effective rate were 66.7% and 93.3% in the thumb-tack needling group, higher than 56.7% and 86.7% in the medication group respectively (both P < 0.05). ConclusionThe thumb-tack needling therapy effectively relieves knee joint pain and improves joint function in the patients and the therapeutic effect is better than medication group. Hence, this therapy deserves to be promoted in clinical practice.