The Effect of Acupuncture on the Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis - An Open Randomised Controlled Study A randomized trial of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee. Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomised trial TENS, electroacupuncture and ice massage: comparison of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. Effectiveness of Acupuncture as Adjunctive Therapy in Osteoarthritis of the Knee Acupuncture-like stimulation with codetron for rehabilitation of patients with chronic pain syndrome and osteoarthritis. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey. The effects of electro-acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on patients with painful osteoarthritic knees: a randomized controlled trial with follow-up evaluation. A Comparison of Acupuncture with Advice and Exercises on the Symptomatic Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Hip – a Randomised Controlled Trial Electroacupuncture versus Diclofenac in symptomatic treatment of Osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial Acupuncture and Moxibustion as An Adjunctive Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Knee - a Large Case Series A comparative study of diazepam and acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis pain: a placebo controlled study. Acupuncture for the treatment of pain of osteoarthritic knees. Efficacy of acupuncture on osteoarthritic pain. A controlled, double-blind study. Acupuncture treatment of severe knee osteoarthrosis. A long‐term study Effect of Acupuncture on Knee Function in Advanced Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Prospective, Non-Randomised Controlled Study Clinical decisions in the use of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee. Non-specific effects of traditional Chinese acupuncture in osteoarthritis of the hip. Unilateral versus Bilateral Acupuncture on Knee Function in Advanced Osteoarthritis of the Knee – a Prospective Randomised Trial Comparison Between Electro-Acupuncture and Hydrotherapy, Both in Combination With Patient Education and Patient Education Alone, on the Symptomatic Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Background Using an open r and omised controlled study , we examined the effectiveness of manual and electroacupuncture on symptom relief for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee . Methods Patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee were r and omised to one of three treatment groups . Group A had acupuncture alone , group B had acupuncture but continued on their symptomatic medication , and group C used their symptomatic medication for the first five weeks and then had a course of acupuncture added . Patients receiving acupuncture were treated twice weekly over five weeks . Needles were inserted ( with manual and electrical stimulation ) in acupuncture points for pain and stiffness , selected according to traditional acupuncture theory for treating Bi syndrome . Patients were assessed by a blinded observer before treatment , after five weeks ’ treatment and at one month follow up , using a visual analogue pain scale ( VAS ) and the Western Ontario McMaster ( WOMAC ) question naire for osteoarthritis of the knee . Results The 30 patients in our study were well matched for age , body mass index , disease duration , baseline VAS pain score and baseline WOMAC scores . Repeated measure analyses gave a highly significant improvement in pain ( VAS ) after the courses of acupuncture in groups A ( P=0.012 ) and B ( P=0.001 ) ; there was no change in group C until after the course of acupuncture , when the improvement was significant ( P=0.001 ) . Similarly significant changes were seen with the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores . These benefits were maintained during the one month after the course of acupuncture . Patients ’ rating of global assessment was higher than that of the acupuncturist . Conclusion We conclude that manual and electroacupuncture causes a significant improvement in the symptoms of osteoarthritis  of the knee , either on its own or as an adjunct therapy , with no loss of benefit after one month OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to st and ard care for the relief of pain and dysfunction in elderly patients with osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the knee . METHODS Seventy-three patients with symptomatic OA of the knee were r and omly assigned to treatment ( acupuncture ) or st and ard care ( control ) . Analysis was performed on last score carried forward to account for patients who dropped out before completion . Patients self-scored Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ( WOMAC ) and Lequesne indices at baseline and at 4 , 8 and 12 weeks . Patients in the control group were offered acupuncture treatment after 12 weeks . The data for these patients are pooled with those from the original acupuncture group for within-group analysis . RESULTS Patients r and omized to acupuncture improved on both WOMAC and Lequesne indices compared to those who received st and ard treatment alone . Significant differences on total WOMAC Scale were seen at 4 and 8 weeks . There appears to be a slight decline in effect at 4 weeks after cessation of treatment ( 12 weeks after first treatment ) . No adverse effects of acupuncture were reported . CONCLUSION These data suggest that acupuncture is an effective and safe adjunctive therapy to conventional care for patients with OA of the knee BACKGROUND Acupuncture is widely used by patients with chronic pain although there is little evidence of its effectiveness . We investigated the efficacy of acupuncture compared with minimal acupuncture and with no acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee . METHODS Patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the knee ( Kellgren grade < or = 2 ) were r and omly assigned to acupuncture ( n=150 ) , minimal acupuncture ( superficial needling at non-acupuncture points ; n=76 ) , or a waiting list control ( n=74 ) . Specialised physicians , in 28 outpatient centres , administered acupuncture and minimal acupuncture in 12 sessions over 8 weeks . Patients completed st and ard question naires at baseline and after 8 weeks , 26 weeks , and 52 weeks . The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis ( WOMAC ) index at the end of week 8 ( adjusted for baseline score ) . All main analyses were by intention to treat . RESULTS 294 patients were enrolled from March 6 , 2002 , to January 17 , 2003 ; eight patients were lost to follow-up after r and omisation , but were included in the final analysis . The mean baseline-adjusted WOMAC index at week 8 was 26.9 ( SE 1.4 ) in the acupuncture group , 35.8 ( 1.9 ) in the minimal acupuncture group , and 49.6 ( 2.0 ) in the waiting list group ( treatment difference acupuncture vs minimal acupuncture -8.8 , [ 95 % CI -13.5 to -4.2 ] , p=0.0002 ; acupuncture vs waiting list -22.7 [ -27.5 to -17.9 ] , p<0.0001 ) . After 52 weeks the difference between the acupuncture and minimal acupuncture groups was no longer significant ( p=0.08 ) . INTERPRETATION After 8 weeks of treatment , pain and joint function are improved more with acupuncture than with minimal acupuncture or no acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee . However , this benefit decreases over time The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of transcutaneous nerve stimulation ( TENS ) , electroacupuncture ( EA ) , and ice massage with placebo treatment for the treatment of pain . Subjects ( n = 100 ) diagnosed with osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the knee were treated with these modalities . The parameters for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment include pain at rest , stiffness , 50 foot walking time , quadriceps muscle strength , and knee flexion degree . The results showed ( a ) that all three methods could be effective in decreasing not only pain but also the objective parameters in a short period of time ; and ( b ) that the treatment results in TENS , EA and ice massage were superior to placebo Context Previous studies of acupuncture for osteoarthritis have had conflicting results . This may have occurred because most studies have included small sample s , a limited number of treatment sessions , or other limitations . Contribution This r and omized , controlled trial compared 24 acupuncture sessions over 26 weeks with sham acupuncture or arthritis education in 570 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee .  Acupuncture led to greater improvements in function but not pain after 8 weeks and in both pain and function after 26 weeks . No adverse effects were associated with acupuncture . Caution s Many participants dropped out of the study , so readers should interpret the findings at 26 weeks with caution . The Editors Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is a major cause of morbidity , limitation of activity , and health care utilization , especially in elderly patients ( 1 , 2 ) . Pain and functional limitation are the primary clinical manifestations of osteoarthritis of the knee . Current recommendations for managing osteoarthritis , including guidelines published by the American College of Rheumatology ( 3 ) and European League of Associations of Rheumatology ( 4 ) , focus on relieving pain and stiffness and maintaining or improving physical function as important goals of therapy . No curative therapies exist for osteoarthritis ; thus , both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management focus on controlling pain and reducing functional limitation ( 5 ) . Nonpharmacologic therapy , which includes patient education , social support , physical and occupational therapy , aerobic and resistive exercises , and weight loss , is the cornerstone of a multidisciplinary approach to osteoarthritis patient management ( 3 ) . Pharmacologic therapies include nonopioid analgesics ( such as acetaminophen ) , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) ( including cyclooxygenase-2 [ COX-2 ] enzyme selective inhibitors ) , topical analgesics ( capsaicin cream ) , opioid analgesics , and intra-articular steroid and hyaluronate injections . Often , these agents are used in combination for additive analgesic efficacy ( 6 ) . Pharmacologic management of osteoarthritis is often ineffective , and agents such as NSAIDs may cause unwanted and dangerous side effects ( 7 , 8) . Complementary and alternative medicine is another approach to treating osteoarthritis ( 9 - 12 ) , particularly in Asian societies ( 13 ) . Many U.S. patients with osteoarthritis also use complementary and alternative medical therapies ( 14 ) . A systematic review of acupuncture and knee osteoarthritis ( 15 ) identified 7 small r and omized , controlled trials published in English . Within the method ologic limitations of the studies , the evidence suggested that acupuncture seemed to alleviate knee pain and function compared with sham acupuncture controls , although 2 trials comparing acupuncture with an active , nonpharmacologic treatment ( physical therapy ) did not indicate such an effect ( 16 , 17 ) . Before conducting our large-scale trial , we completed both a pilot study ( 18 ) and a r and omized , single-blind trial ( 19 ) of the effect of acupuncture on osteoarthritis of the knee . Participants in the uncontrolled pilot study ( n= 12 ) showed statistically significant improvement in both self-reported pain and physical function , as well as performance measures of physical function after 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment and at 12-week follow-up as compared with their baseline ( 18 ) . In our larger r and omized , single-blind trial ( n= 73 ) , which examined the benefit of acupuncture added to st and ard management with NSAIDs , the acupuncture  treatment group experienced statistically significant improvements in self-reported pain and disability scores compared with a st and ard-care control group as late as 4 weeks after the end of treatment ( 19 ) . However , this effect diminished within 18 weeks ( 26 weeks after the beginning of the trial ) after the final acupuncture treatment . Together , however , the previously conducted trials ( both our preliminary studies [ 18 , 19 ] and those referenced in the systematic review [ 15 ] ) have 3 method ologic limitations : lack of credible controls for the placebo effect , inadequate assessment of long-term treatment benefits , and insufficient sample sizes . We tested the hypothesis that an 8-week intensive acupuncture treatment regimen , followed by an 18-week tapering regimen , reduces pain and improves function among patients with knee osteoarthritis as compared with both sham acupuncture and education control groups . Methods Patient Recruitment We recruited patients for this multisite , placebo-controlled trial from March 2000 through December 2003 , primarily through print and radio advertisements . The 3 sites were the Integrative Medicine Clinic of the University of Maryl and School of Medicine , Baltimore , Maryl and ; the Innovative Medical Research Center ( a private research firm ) , Towson , Maryl and ; and the Hospital for Special Surgery , New York City , New York . The institutional review boards of the 3 sites approved the study . We determined the sample size ( n= 570 ) by a power analysis based on our r and omized pilot study ( 19 ) , adjusted by the estimated decrease in effect size result ing from the inclusion of a sham acupuncture group design ed to control for placebo effects . Patients met the following inclusion criteria : age 50 years or older , a diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee , radiographic evidence of at least 1 osteophyte at the tibiofemoral joint ( KellgrenLawrence grade 2 ) , moderate or greater clinical ly significant knee pain on most days during the past month , and willingness to be r and omly assigned . Exclusion criteria were the presence of serious medical conditions that precluded participation in study , bleeding disorders that might contraindicate acupuncture , intra-articular corticosteroid or hyaluronate injections ( as well as any knee surgeries or concomitant use of topical capsaicin cream ) during the past 6 months , previous experience with acupuncture , or any planned events ( including total knee replacement ) that would interfere with participation in the study during the following 26 weeks . After a brief telephone screening , patients were scheduled to visit 1 of the 3 participating sites to sign an informed consent statement and undergo a brief rheumatologic examination ( including radiographic examination of affected knees ) by a physician or a nurse practitioner . Because the education course was a group activity , patients were recruited until a cohort of 12 to 21 patients was formed , at which point each cohort at each site was r and omly assigned to 1 of 3 groups by a computer-generated process using r and omly selected blocks of 3 , 6 , and 9 . We assured allocation concealment by using disguised letter codes that were generated and sent to the site coordinators by a central statistical core . We used this procedure to ensure that approximately equal numbers of participants were in each treatment group across the course of the study , to ensure that each cohort would have participants assigned to all 3 treatment groups , and to make the breaking of the group assignment process more difficult . The research assistants who collected assessment s from participants , the participants themselves ( in the true acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups ) , and the statistician were blinded to group assignment . Assessment s were conducted at baseline and 4 , 8 , 14 , and 26 weeks after r and omization . Study Interventions We developed and modified the acupuncture treatment and sham control protocol s from previously reported and vali date d procedures ( 18 - 21 ) . During the trial , 7 acupuncturists were used : 3 at the Integrative Medicine Clinic , 3 at the Innovative Medical Research Center , and 1 at the Hospital for Special Surgery . In general , acupuncturists were assigned to the same participants throughout the 26-week treatment schedule , except for vacation conflicts and staff turnover , and provided approximately the same proportions of true versus sham procedures . All acupuncturists were state-licensed and had at least 2 years of clinical experience . The study 's principal acupuncturist trained and supervised the acupuncturists in performing true or sham procedures and avoiding interactions that could inadvertently communicate group assignment . True Acupuncture The true acupuncture  ( experimental ) group underwent 26 weeks of gradually tapering treatment according to the following schedule : 8 weeks of 2 treatments per week followed by 2 weeks of 1 treatment per week , 4 weeks of 1 treatment every other week , and 12 weeks of 1 treatment per month . We based the acupuncture point selection s on Traditional Chinese Medicine meridian theory to treat knee joint pain , known as the Bi syndrome . These points consisted of 5 local points ( Yanglinquan [ gall bladder meridian point 34 ] , Yinlinquan [ spleen meridian point 9 ] , Zhusanli [ stomach meridian point 36 ] , Dubi [ stomach meridian point 35 ] , and extra point Xiyan ) and 4 distal points ( Kunlun [ urinarybladder , meridian point 60 ] , Xuanzhong [ gall bladder meridian point 39 ] , Sanyinjiao [ spleen meridian point 6 ] , and Taixi [ kidney meridian point 3 ] ) on meridians that traverse the area of pain ( 22 , 23 ) . The same points were treated for each affected leg . If both knees were affected , 9 needles were inserted in each leg . ( The outcome measures were not specifically targeted to whether the patient had osteoarthritis in 1 or both knees , and we observed no differential effects on the basis of the number of knees treated . ) The acupuncturists inserted 1.5-inch ( for local points ) and 1-inch ( for distal points ) 32-gauge ( 0.25-mm diameter ) acupuncture needles to a conventional depth of approximately 0.3 to 1.0 inch , depending on point location . All participants in the treatment group achieved the De-Qi sensation , a local sensation of heaviness , numbness , soreness , or paresthesia that accompanies the insertion and manipulation of needles during acupuncture , at these 9 points . Acupuncturists applied electrical Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing methods which is used in traditional medicine . In the modern medicine , we are witnessing a renaissance of this ancient treatment applied mainly in the management of chronic pain . A number of modern technological changes are being applied to replace , or modify , the classical needle treatment . Among many modalities used today is the novel addition in Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation ( TENS ) called CODETRON which delivers acupuncture-like stimulation in a r and om order . CODETRON was developed by a Canadian Scientist and had been evaluated in a clinical trial in a multidisciplinary pain clinic on patients who came for acupuncture therapy over a period of two years .  Indications , effectiveness and experiences with this form of treatment are presented . In addition , results obtained from a six week double-blind r and omized placebo controlled pilot trial of osteoarthritis of the hip/knee with CODETRON which was conducted later . The results were highly suggestive of the beneficial effect of this nonhabituating mode of therapy and confirmed our initial uncontrolled trial results CONTEXT A prior national survey documented the high prevalence and costs of  alternative medicine use in the United States in 1990 . OBJECTIVE To document trends in alternative medicine use in the United States between 1990 and 1997 . DESIGN Nationally representative r and om household telephone surveys using comparable key questions were conducted in 1991 and 1997 measuring utilization in 1990 and 1997 , respectively . PARTICIPANTS A total of 1539 adults in 1991 and 2055 in 1997 . MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Prevalence , estimated costs , and disclosure of alternative therapies to physicians . RESULTS Use of at least 1 of 16 alternative therapies during the previous year increased from 33.8 % in 1990 to 42.1 % in 1997 ( P < or = .001 ) . The therapies increasing the most included herbal medicine , massage , megavitamins , self-help groups , folk remedies , energy healing , and homeopathy . The probability of users visiting an alternative medicine practitioner increased from 36.3 % to 46.3 % ( P = .002 ) . In both surveys alternative therapies were used most frequently for chronic conditions , including back problems , anxiety , depression , and headaches . There was no significant change in disclosure rates between the 2 survey years ; 39.8 % of alternative therapies were disclosed to physicians in 1990 vs 38.5 % in 1997 . The percentage of users paying entirely out-of-pocket for services provided by alternative medicine practitioners did not change significantly between 1990 ( 64.0 % ) and 1997 ( 58.3 % ) ( P=.36 ) . Extrapolations to the US population suggest a 47.3 % increase in total visits to alternative medicine practitioners , from 427 million in 1990 to 629 million in 1997 , thereby exceeding total visits to all US primary care physicians . An estimated 15 million adults in 1997 took prescription medications concurrently with herbal remedies and /or high-dose vitamins ( 18.4 % of all prescription users ) . Estimated expenditures for alternative medicine professional services increased 45.2 % between 1990 and 1997 and were conservatively estimated at $ 21.2 billion in 1997 , with at least $ 12.2 billion paid out-of-pocket . This exceeds the 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures for all US hospitalizations . Total 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures relating to alternative therapies were conservatively estimated at $ 27.0 billion , which is comparable with the projected 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures for all US physician services . CONCLUSIONS  Alternative medicine use and expenditures increased substantially between 1990 and 1997 , attributable primarily to an increase in the proportion of the population seeking alternative therapies , rather than increased visits per patient OBJECTIVES To examine the relative effectiveness of electro-acupuncture ( EA ) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( TENS ) in alleviating osteoarthritic (OA)-induced knee pain .  DESIGN Single-blinded , r and omized controlled study . SUBJECTS Twenty-four ( 24 ) subjects ( 23 women and 1 man ) , mean age 85 , were recruited from eight subsidized Care & Attention Homes for the elderly . INTERVENTIONS Subjects were r and omly assigned to the EA , TENS , or control groups . Subjects in the EA group ( n = 8) received low-frequency EA ( 2 Hz ) on two acupuncture points ( ST-35 , Dubi and EX-LE-4 , Neixiyan ) of the painful knee for 20 minutes . Subjects in the TENS group ( n = 8) received low-frequency TENS of 2 Hz and pulse width of 200 micros on the same acupuncture points for 20 minutes . In both treatment groups , electrical treatment was carried out for a total of eight sessions in 2 weeks . Eight subjects received osteoarthritic knee care and education only in a control group . All subjects were evaluated before the first treatment , after the last treatment , and at 2-week follow-up periods . RESULTS After eight sessions of treatment , there was significant reduction of knee pain in both EA group and TENS group , as measured by the Numeric Rating Scale ( NRS ) of pain ( p < 0.01 ) . Prolonged analgesic effect was maintained in the EA and the TENS groups at a 2-week follow-up evaluation . The Timed Up- and -Go Test ( TUGT ) score of the EA group was significantly lower than that of the control group ( p < 0.05 ) , but such change was not observed in the TENS group . CONCLUSIONS Both EA and TENS treatments were effective in reducing OA-induced knee pain .  EA had the additional advantage of enhancing the TUGT results as opposed to TENS treatment or no treatment , which did not produce such corollary effect Acupuncture is becoming a common technique within the physiotherapy profession as a treatment modality for pain relief ; however , few r and omised controlled trials have been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture , particularly in the treatment of osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the hip . Therefore , a r and omised trial to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture with advice and exercises on the symptomatic treatment of OA of the hip was carried out . Thirty-two patients awaiting a total hip arthroplasty were r and omly allocated to either the experimental group , ( A ) , to have six sessions of acupuncture each lasting up to 25 minutes , or the control group , ( B ) , to be given advice and exercises for their hip over a six week period . Group A consisted of three men and 13 women , and group B consisted of four men and eight women . The average age in group A was 66 years and in group B it was 68 years . Patients were assessed for pain and functional ability , using a modified version of the WOMAC question naire , pre-treatment , immediately post-treatment and at eight weeks post-treatment . The pre-treatment WOMAC scores in the two groups were similar ( p=0.85 ) . There was a significant improvement in group A ( decrease in WOMAC score ) immediately post-treatment ( p=0.002 ) and this was maintained at the eight-week follow-up ( p=0.03 ) . There were no significant changes in group B. When the changes in WOMAC scores were compared between groups , a significantly greater improvement was found between pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment in group A , compared with group B ( p=0.02 ) . The changes between pre-treatment and the eight-week follow-up also showed a significant improvement in group A compared with group B ( p=0.03 ) . In conclusion , this trial supports the hypothesis that acupuncture is more effective than advice and exercises in the symptomatic treatment of OA of the hip Background The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of electroacupuncture ( EA ) , diclofenac and their combination in symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the knee . Methods This study was a r and omized , single-blind , placebo controlled trial . The 193 out- patients with OA of the knee were r and omized into four groups : placebo , diclofenac , EA and combined ( diclofenac plus EA ) . Paracetamol tablets were prescribed as a rescue analgesic during the study . The patients were evaluated after a run-in period of one week ( week 0 ) and again at the end of the study ( week 4 ) . The clinical assessment s included the amount of paracetamol taken/week , visual analog scale ( VAS ) , Western Ontario and McMaster Universities ( WOMAC ) OA Index , Lequesne 's functional index , 50 feet-walk time , and the orthopedist 's and patient 's opinion of change . Results One hundred and eighty six patients completed the study . The improvement of symptoms ( reduction in mean changes ) in most outcome parameters was greatest in the EA group . The proportions of responders and patients with an overall opinion of " much better " were also greatest in the EA group . The improvement in VAS was significantly different between the EA and placebo group as well as the EA and diclofenac group . The improvement in Lequesne 's functional index also differed significantly between the EA and placebo group . In addition , there was a significant improvement in WOMAC pain index between the combined and placebo group . Conclusion EA is significantly more effective than placebo and diclofenac in the symptomatic treatment of OA of the knee in some circumstances . However , the combination of EA and diclofenac treatment was no more effective than EA treatment alone Background In 1997 , the first Pain Management Unit , which was set up as part of primary health care within the And alusian Public Health System , offered acupuncture among other therapies . This observational study was conducted in preparation for a r and omised controlled trial . Methods We conducted a descriptive study of patients who had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee . The patients received weekly acupuncture treatment , and related techniques , from November 1997 to November 2000 . We recorded : socio-demographic data ; measures of effectiveness , including intensity and frequency of pain ; the daily dose of analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication ; the degree of incapacity ; and sleep disorders caused by pain in the knee . Results The 563 patients who presented were mainly female ( 88 % ) with an average age of 65 years ( ±10.7 ) ; the average age of the male patients was 67 years ( ±11.8 ) . The condition in most patients ( 95 % ) was chronic : 54 % had the condition for 5 - 10 years and a further 23 % for more than 10 years . Of the total , 85 ( 15 % ) ab and oned treatment and were excluded from the evaluation , while 75 % of the remainder achieved a reduction in pain of 45 % or more . This study is intended to form the basis for a subsequent controlled clinical trial of the effectiveness of acupuncture  as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee . Conclusion The degree of pain relief experienced by patients from acupuncture justifies a more rigorous study Forty-four patients with chronic cervical osteoarthritis took part in this study . Patients were treated with acupuncture , sham-acupuncture , diazepam or placebo-diazepam in r and omized order . Pain was rated on visual analogue scales before , during , and after treatment . Two scales were separately used to rate the intensity ( sensory component ) and the unpleasantness ( affective component ) of pain . The results analyzed from these trials show that diazepam , placebo-diazepam , acupuncture and sham-acupuncture have a more pronounced effect on the affective than on the sensory component of pain .  Acupuncture was significantly more effective than placebo-diazepam ( p less than 0.05 ) , but not significantly more effective than diazepam or sham-acupuncture OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture in the reduction of pain in persons with osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the knee . METHODS Forty subjects ( 20 men , 20 women ) with radiographic evidence of OA of the knee were stratified by gender and r and omly assigned to either the experimental ( real acupuncture ) or control ( sham acupuncture ) groups . Subjects were treated three times per week for 3 weeks and evaluated at three test sessions . Outcome measures were : 1 ) the Pain Rating Index of the McGill Pain Question naire , 2 ) the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities ( WOMAC ) Osteoarthritis Index , and 3 ) pain threshold at four sites at the knee . RESULTS The analyses of variance showed that both real and sham acupuncture significantly reduced pain , stiffness , and physical disability in the OA knee , but that there were no significant differences between groups . CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture is not more effective than sham acupuncture in the treatment of OA pain Forty patients , r and omly assigned to an experimental and a control group , participated in a double-blind study to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing  chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis . The experimental group received treatment at st and ard acupuncture points , and the control group at placebo points . Analysis before and after treatment showed a significant ( P less than 0.05 ) improvement in tenderness and subjective report of pain in both groups as evaluated by two independent observers and in activity by one observer . Comparison of responses to treatment between the two groups showed no significant ( P greater than 0.05 ) difference . Thus , both experimental and control groups showed a reduction in pain after the treatments . These results may reflect the natural course of illness , and various attitudinal and social factors Purpose : Acupuncture treatment of patients waiting for arthroplasty surgery . Methods : 29 patients with a total of 42 osteoarthritic knees were r and omized to two groups . Group A was treated while Group B served as a no‐treatment control group . After 9 weeks Group B was treated too . Analgesic consumption , pain and objective measurements were registered . All objective measures were done by investigators who were “ blinded ” as to Group A & B. In the second part of the study 17 patients ( 26 knees ) continued with treatments once a month . Registration of analgesic consumption , pain and objective measurements continued . Total study period 49 weeks . Results : Comparing Group A to B there was a significant reduction in pain , analgesic consumption and in most objective measures . In Group A + B combined there was an 80 % subjective improvement , and a significantly increased knee range movement – an increase mainly in the worst knees . Results were significantly better in those who had not been ill for a long time . In the second part of the study , it was shown that it was possible to maintain the improvements . Conclusions : Acupuncture can ease the discomfort while waiting for an operation and perhaps even serve as an alternative to surgery . Seven patients have responded so well that at present they do not want an operation . ( USD 9000 saved per operation ) We report a prospect i ve controlled trial , comparing acupuncture with no treatment , in patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee awaiting total knee replacement .  Knee function was assessed at the beginning of study and at the end of two months , using four parameters : HSS score , time to walk 50 metres , time to climb 20 steps , and degree of pain .  Acupuncture was given at four local points around the knee and at one distal point . The acupuncture group improved in all parameters , whereas the control group deteriorated , a finding that was highly statistically significant ( p<0.0002 ) . Further r and omised-controlled trials with longer follow-up are required to confirm these findings OBJECTIVE To determine whether demographic , medical history , or arthritis assessment data may influence outcome and rate of decay for patients with osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture .  DESIGN Seventy-three persons with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee were recruited for this r and omized controlled trial . Both treatment and crossover control groups received acupuncture treatments twice weekly for 8 weeks . Patients self-scored on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ( WOMAC ) and the Lequesne Algofunctional Index at baseline and 4 , 8 , and 12 weeks . Sample size for this outcome analysis was 60 patients at 4 weeks , 58 at 8 weeks , and 52 at 12 weeks . RESULTS Patients ' scores on both indexes improved at 4 , 8 , and 12 weeks . Scores were stable regardless of the baseline severity of the osteoarthritis . Despite some decay in outcomes at week 12 , measures were significantly improved over baseline . With WOMAC scores partitioned into equal quartiles , a strong effect on outcome was apparent at 12 weeks ( 4 weeks after treatment ) related to initial WOMAC scores . The group with the least disability and pain rebounded to original levels to a greater degree than did those who initially were more disabled . The more disabled groups retained the benefits of acupuncture treatment through the 12-week period . CONCLUSION Acupuncture for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee may best be used early in the treatment plan , with a method ical decrease in frequency in treatment once the acute treatment period is completed to avoid a rebound effect . Demographic and medical history data were not mediating variables OBJECTIVES The effectiveness of acupuncture treatment  in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip was tested . DESIGN This is a prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled , patient- and investigator-blinded clinical trial . PATIENTS AND SETTING The study was performed at a university department for physical medicine and rehabilitation . Sixty-seven patients were separated into two treatment groups . INTERVENTIONS Group 1 ( treatment ) had traditional needle placement and manipulation , whereas in group 2 ( control ) needles were placed away from classic positions and not manipulated . In both groups needles were placed within the L2 to L5 dermatomes . Outcome parameters were : pain ( VAS ) , functional impairment ( hip score ) , activity in daily life ( ADL ) and overall satisfaction before treatment , and 2 weeks and 2 months after treatment . RESULTS For all parameters there was a significant improvement versus baseline in both groups 2 weeks and 2 months following treatment , but no significant difference between the two treatment groups . CONCLUSIONS We conclude from these results that needle placement in the area of the affected hip is associated with improvement in the symptoms of osteoarthritis . It appears to be less important to follow the rules of traditional acupuncture techniques We report a prospect i ve r and omised trial of acupuncture given to 44 patients with advanced osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the knee awaiting total knee joint replacement . Patients were r and omly allocated into two groups , group A receiving acupuncture to the most affected knee only and group B receiving acupuncture to both knees . Acupuncture was given to four local points around the knee and one distal point . The local points were Spleen 9 ( Yinlinquan , SP9 ) , Spleen 10 ( Xuehai , SP10 ) , Stomach 34 ( Liangqui , ST34 ) , and Stomach 36 ( Zusanli , ST36 ) . The distal point was Large Intestine 4 ( Hegu , LI4 ) on the first web space of the ipsilateral h and . A blinded observer assessed knee function before starting treatment , and at the end of two and six months . Analysis of the results showed a significant reduction in symptoms in both groups , and this improvement was sustained for six months . There was no statistically significant difference between the groups . In conclusion , unilateral acupuncture is as effective as bilateral acupuncture in increasing function and reducing the pain associated with OA of the knee . This trial is not able to distinguish the specific from the non-specific effects of the treatment Objectives : The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of electro-acupuncture ( EA ) and hydrotherapy , both in combination with patient education or with patient education alone , in the treatment of osteoarthritis in the hip . Methods : Forty-five patients , aged 42–86 years , with radiographic changes consistent with osteoarthritis in the hip , pain related to motion , pain on load , and ache were chosen . They were r and omly allocated to EA , hydrotherapy , both in combination with patient education , or patient education alone . Outcome measures were the disability rating index ( DRI ) , global self-rating index ( GSI ) , and visual analogue scale ( VAS ) . Assessment s were done before the intervention and immediately after the last treatment and 1 , 3 , and 6 months after the last treatment . Results : Pain related to motion and pain on load was reduced up to 3 months after last the treatment in the hydrotherapy group and up to 6 months in the EA group . Ache during the day was significantly improved in both the EA and hydrotherapy group up to 3 months after the last treatment . Ache during the night was reduced in the hydrotherapy group up to 3 months after the last treatment and in the EA group up to 6 months after . Disability in functional activities was improved in EA and hydrotherapy groups up to 6 months after the last treatment . Quality of life was also improved in EA and hydrotherapy groups up to 3 months after the last treatment . There were no changes in the education group alone . Discussion : In conclusion , EA and hydrotherapy , both in combination with patient education , induce long-lasting effects , shown by reduced pain and ache and by increased functional activity and quality of life , as demonstrated by differences in the pre- and post-treatment assessment
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in peripheral joint osteoarthritis ( OA ) .