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AI-Assisted Knee Infrared Imaging Based Acupuncture for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study
Muyun Yang1, Fengxi Qiu2, Xianfei Xie3
1Characteristic Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Institution, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Journal of Pain Research
|November 25, 2025
Summary
AI-assisted acupuncture shows promise for standardizing knee osteoarthritis treatment. This study compares AI-guided acupoint selection against traditional methods and sham acupuncture to assess pain relief and joint function improvements.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Integrative Medicine
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Background:
- Variability in acupoint selection challenges acupuncture standardization for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and infrared imaging offer potential for precise, standardized acupuncture.
- Addressing KOA treatment efficacy requires improved acupoint selection methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if AI-assisted personalized acupuncture is superior to traditional and sham acupuncture for KOA symptom management.
- To assess the impact of AI-guided acupoint selection on pain and joint function in KOA patients.
- To provide evidence for the clinical value and standardization of AI-assisted acupuncture in KOA treatment.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 120 KOA patients.
- Participants randomly assigned to AI-assisted, traditional, or sham acupuncture groups (n=40 each).
- Treatment administered twice weekly for 8 weeks; outcomes assessed at baseline, week 8, and week 12.
Main Results:
- Primary outcomes: knee pain (Numeric Rating Scale) and function (WOMAC subscale).
- Secondary outcomes: stiffness, quality of life (SF-12), range of motion, TCM efficacy, and inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α).
- AI system uses infrared imaging to identify heat-sensitive areas for individualized acupoint prescriptions.
Conclusions:
- The study is expected to yield high-quality evidence on AI-assisted acupuncture's effectiveness and standardization potential.
- Results will inform clinical practice regarding personalized acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis.
- This trial contributes to advancing AI applications in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
