Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Fire Needling Versus Electroacupuncture in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis of Kidney and Marrow Deficiency Type
10.13460/j.issn.1005-0957.2017.05.0513
- VernacularTitle:火针和电针治疗肾虚髓亏型膝骨关节炎的疗效对比研究
- Author:
Liyan ZHOU
;
Tianfeng HE
;
Xinghong BING
;
Xiaoyan ZHU
;
Yinhua SONG
;
Jinlei DING
;
Xidong DUAN
;
Shanping TAO
- Keywords:
Acupuncture therapy;
Fire-needle therapy;
Electroacupuncture;
Osteoarthritis;
knee joint;
Kidney and marrow deficiency type;
VAS score;
WOMAC scale
- From:
Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
2017;36(5):513-518
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To observe and compare the clinical efficacy of fire needling versus electroacupuncture in treating knee osteoarthritis of kidney and marrow deficiency type.Methods One hundred and ten patients with knee osteoarthritis of kidney and marrow deficiency type were randomly allocated to two groups, a fire needling group of 56 cases and an electroacupuncture group of 54 cases. The fire needling group received filiform needle acupuncture and fire needle pricking and the electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture. Treatment was given once every other day, for a total of four weeks as one course. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score were recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results The VAS score and the WOMAC subscores significantly decreased in both groups after treatment compared with those before treatment (P<0.01). There were no statistically significant post-treatment differences in the VAS score and the WOMAC subscores between the two groups (P>0.05). The VAS score and the WOMAC subscores decreased further in both groups at four weeks after treatment compared with those at the end of treatment (P<0.01). In the electroacupuncture group, there were statistically significant differences in the VAS score and the WOMAC pain and stiffness subscores between eight weeks and four weeks after treatment (P<0.01) and in the WOMAC pain, stiffness and joint function subscores between at eight weeks after treatment and at the end of treatment (P<0.01). In the fire needling group, there were statistically significant differences in the VAS score and the WOMAC pain, stiffness and joint function subscores between at eight weeks after treatment and at the end of treatment (P<0.01). At four weeks after treatment, the VAS score and the WOMAC pain, stiffness and joint function subscores were significantly lower in the fire needling group than in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05,P<0.01). At eight weeks after treatment, the VAS score and the WOMAC pain and stiffness subscores were still significantly lower in the fire needling group than in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 94.6% in the fire needling group and 90.7% in the electroacupuncture group; there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusions Both filiform needle acupuncture plus fire needle pricking and electroacupuncture can markedly relieve the pain and stiffness and improve joint function in knee osteoarthritis of kidney and marrow deficiency type. Both have an equivalent short-term therapeutic effect. Filiform needle acupuncture plus fire needle pricking has a better long-term therapeutic effect than electroacupuncture.
