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Complementary or alternative therapies for osteoarthritis.

Edzard Ernst1

  • 1Complementary Medicine Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, UK. Edzard.Ernst@pms.ac.uk

Nature Clinical Practice. Rheumatology
|August 26, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Evidence for complementary osteoarthritis therapies varies. Acupuncture, herbal medicines, and capsaicin show promise, while others lack strong support, necessitating further research.

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Area of Science:

  • Integrative Medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

  • Osteoarthritis (OA) management often includes complementary and alternative therapies (CATs).
  • Healthcare providers and patients need clear evidence on CAT efficacy and safety for OA.
  • A comprehensive review of existing evidence is crucial for informed decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the best available scientific evidence for commonly used complementary and alternative therapies for osteoarthritis.
  • To assess the risk-benefit profile of various CATs based on current research.
  • To identify CATs that warrant further rigorous investigation.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of existing scientific literature on complementary and alternative therapies for osteoarthritis.
  • Evaluation of the quality and strength of evidence for each therapy.
  • Assessment of reported benefits, risks, and adverse effects.

Main Results:

  • Acupuncture, certain herbal medicines, and topical capsaicin demonstrate encouraging risk-benefit profiles for OA.
  • Evidence for homeopathy, magnet therapy, tai chi, leech therapy, music therapy, yoga, imagery, and therapeutic touch is weak or contradictory.
  • Numerous other CATs for OA have not undergone sufficient scientific testing.

Conclusions:

  • Some complementary and alternative therapies show potential for osteoarthritis treatment.
  • Further large-scale, definitive randomized clinical trials are warranted for promising CATs.
  • Evidence-based evaluation is essential for integrating safe and effective CATs into OA care.

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