[Warm-needling moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis:a randomized controlled trial]

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease causing pain and functional limitation.
• Muscle weakness and imbalance around the knee are common in KOA, impacting joint stability and mobility.
• Conservative treatments for KOA aim to alleviate pain, improve function, and slow disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical efficacy of warm-needling moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
• To investigate the effects of warm-needling moxibustion on the isokinetic strength of lower limb muscles in KOA patients.
• To assess changes in pain, stiffness, and functional status using the WOMAC index.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 50 KOA patients, divided into an observation group (warm-needling moxibustion) and a control group (no treatment).
• The observation group received 12 sessions of warm-needling moxibustion over 3 weeks, targeting specific acupoints.
• Isokinetic strength (total work, peak torque), WOMAC scores, and overall efficacy were measured and compared between groups.

Main Results:

• Warm-needling moxibustion significantly increased extensor and flexor muscle strength (total work, peak torque) and improved muscle balance in the observation group (P<0.01, P<0.05).
• The observation group showed significant reductions in WOMAC pain, stiffness, and total scores (P<0.01), indicating improved symptoms.
• The total effective rate in the warm-needling moxibustion group was 88.0% (22/25), with significant improvements compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Warm-needling moxibustion is clinically effective for knee osteoarthritis, offering pain relief and functional improvement.
• The therapy enhances lower limb muscle strength, particularly the extensor muscles, and improves muscle balance.
• Warm-needling moxibustion presents a promising therapeutic option for managing knee osteoarthritis.