A Randomized Clinical Trial of Local Acupoints Compared with Distal Acupoints in Degenerative Osteoarthritis on Knee

퇴행성 슬관절염에 대한 근위취혈과 원위취혈 침 치료의 효과 비교에 대한 임상연구

  • Park, In-Shik (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Jung, Chan-Young (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Jang, Min-Ki (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Kang, Mi-Suk (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Kaungwon University) ;
  • Lee, Seung-Woo (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Kim, Eun-Jung (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Lee, Seung-Deok (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Kim, Kap-Sung (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University)
  • 박인식 (동국대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 정찬영 (동국대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 장민기 (동국대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 강미숙 (경원대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 이승우 (동국대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 김은정 (동국대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 이승덕 (동국대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실) ;
  • 김갑성 (동국대학교 한의과대학 침구학교실)
  • Published : 2008.04.20

Abstract

Objectives : To compare the efficacy of local acupoint with distal acupuncture at relieving pain and improving function in knee osteoarthritis. Designs : A randomized, single-blinded, crossover clinical trial. Settings : One outpatient clinic(department of acupuncture & moxibustion) located in academic teaching hospital, South Korea. Patients : 17 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee(mean age 62.76[$SD{\pm}4.37$] years). Interventions : The trial had 4 stages : baseline(2weeks), phase I and II(each 2weeks), washout period(2weeks). Patients were randomly assigned to either group A or group B. Group A received acupuncture at local acupoints during phase I, then acupuncture at distal acupoints in phase II. Group B received the treatments in reverse order. In each phase, the patients were treated with acupuncture for 6 times. Measurements : The primary outcome was subjective pain as measured by a 100mm visual analogue scale(VAS) ranging from 0(no pain) to 10(worst pain ever). Secondary outcomes were changes in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC) total and pain scores. Measurements were obtained at baseline, 1st day of phase I and II, and 2 days after last treatment of phase I and II. Results : The 17 participants in 2 groups were well matched for age, sex, target knees, baseline VAS score, WOMAC pain score and WOMAC score. Participants in local acupoint group experienced greater improvement than distal acupoint group at 2 days after last treatment in WOMAC total score(mean difference, -10.65[95% CI, -20.56 to -0.74] ; P=0.036) but not in VAS(mean difference, -12.41[95% CI, -29.56 to 4.73] P=0.15) and WOMAC pain score(mean difference, -1.82[95% CI, -3.98 to 0.33] ; P=0.094). Conclusions : Local acupoints are more effective than distal acupoints at relieving pain and improving function in knee osteoarthritis.

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