Control of chronic knee osteoarthritic pain with local acupuncture press needles

Abstract EN

Objectives: Previous studies to investigate the effect of Chinese and sham acupuncture on osteoarthritis of the knee showed a post-treatment significant reduction in pain and disability.

To the moment, press needles were limited to ear acupuncture.

This study was carried out to assess the effect of local press needles, applied to the local acupuncture knee points, on the course of pain and disability in osteoarthritis patients.

Patients and Methods: Twenty-five patients who had bilateral or unilateral knee osteoarthritis as evidenced clinically and radiologically were allocated to the study.

They were classified into 3 groups according to their disease duration.

Patients received acupuncture press needles, being inserted at the local knee points, as described.

The needles remained at site, and renewed every week, or when one had to be removed, for a total period of 8 weeks.

Assessment of pain was done using the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, which includes a summation of affective and sensory word scores (total word score), a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS), and a present pain intensity score.

Results: There was a highly significant improvement in pain of osteoarthritic knees in patients who had a duration of illness less than one year (group I) with a reduction of pain score by 82% (p<0.0001).

Groups II, III showed a significant improvement but to a lesser degree with a reduction of pain score by 64% and 31% (p<0.01, p<0.05 respectively).

Conclusion: Long lasting mounting of press needles to local knee acupuncture points would result in a long-lasting relief of pain and reduction of disability in osteoarthritis patients.

As treatment starts earlier in the course of the disease, results would be better.