Clinical Observation On Knee Osteoarthritis Treated By Acupuncture With Moxibustion

ObjectiveKnee osteoarthritis,called "Arthralgia" by traditional Chinese medicine, is one of the common diseases happened to elderly population. In modern medicine, the knee osteoarthritis can be divided into primary and secondary knee osteoarthritis. The cause of the former is not yet clear, but we suspect it maybe related to gender, age, occupation, obesity, immune and other factors. The latter can secondary to the trauma of types of knee joint and surrounding tissue. In traditional chinese medicine, the incidence of this disease is due to evil influence, including wind, cold and dampness,which attacked the body and closed meridians. The treatment of knee osteoarthritis according to the theory of western medicine that can only alleviate the symptoms, but not improve the function of joint. Therefore, we designed this study to contrast the differences of the integrated clinical composite efficacy between the group treated by acupuncture with moxibustion and by taking diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets. MethodsReference to the American Rheumatism Association for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee and self-prepared standards on bringed in and excluded,60 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were divided into two groups randomly. One of the group was treated by acupuncture with moxibustion, selecting the acupuncture points including shen shu, liang qiu, xue hai, nei xiyan,wai xiyan, qu quan, yin lingquan, yang lingquan, zu sanli, san yinjiao,and inserting a short moxa on the of needle handle at shen shu,nei xiyan, wai xiyan, zu sanli, san yinjiao. The other group was treated by taking diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets,10 days as a course of treatment, and than contrasting the effects after 3 courses. Accordancing to the standard of HSS,we comprehensive reviews of patients through the pain, walking, mobility, muscle strength, flexion deformity and stability, The patients will be divided into four levels:Excellent (greater than 80), good(70 to 79), common(60 to 69) and poor (less than 59). We can conclude the rerult by constrasting the difference integral between before and after treatment, and the levels of rate of change.Results1. After treatment, there were obviously increased in score of pain between the two groups (P<0.05). And there were no significantly differences between the two groups (P< 0.05).2. After treatment, there were obviously increased in score of Joint function in treatment group(P< 0.05), but no significient change in the control group(P> 0.05).There were statistical differences between the two groups (P<0.05). 3. After treatment, there were obviously increased in score of flexion deformity in treatment group,but no significient change in the control group(P>0.05). There were statistical differences between the two groups (P<0.05).4. After treatment, there were increased in score of Comprehensive evaluation among the two groups. And the score of treatment group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05).5. After treatment, the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group on the effective rate and total rate.ConclusionTwo treatments for knee osteoarthritis are effective, and are similar in relieving the pain. but rhe group treated by acupuncture with moxibustion is superior to the group treated by painkiller in improving the function of the sick knee and deformity joint. The group treated by acupuncture with moxibustion is significantly better than the group treated by painkiller In terms of comprehensive evaluation. Acupuncture with Moxibustion can not only ease the pain, but also improve limb function and improve quality of life.