Efficacy of traditional Chinese acupuncture in the treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a pilot study

Author(s): Lao, L., Greene, M., Anderson, R., Wong, R., Langenberg, P., Hochberg, M.

Abstract: ALTHOUGH OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA) of the knee is a common and frequently disabling disease among the elderly, there is currently neither any specific nor curative therapy for this condition. Current medical management emphasizes the use of patient education, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical and occupational therapy, and, occasionally, intraarticular steroid injections. Additional therapies include topical capsaicin cream, tidal joint lavage, injections of hyaluronic acid and arthroscopic debridement (1). There has recently been renewed interest in unconventional medicine including acupuncture; indeed, arthritis is the third most common condition for which people seek alternative care in the United States [2]. The percentage of patients with arthritis who have visited an alternative practitioner has been reported to range from 25 54% in the United Kingdom (3). Acupuncture is an accepted treatment for arthritis in Asian countries, and OA has been revognized by the World Health Organization as an indication for acupuncture treatment [4]. Although acupuncture has Seen practised for thousands of years, studies of its efficacy in patiente with OA have given conflicting results [5,6]. In planning a randomized controlled trial of acupuncture, we conducted a pilot study using validated outcome measures to obtain preliminary data on efficacy and tolerability in 12 patients with symptomatic knee OA. These data suggest that traditional Chinese acupuncture may be effective in relieving symptoms and improving function in patients with knee OA.

Keyword(s): Aged

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