Clinical Study Of Needle Therapy To Knee Osteoarthritis(KOA) Applying Orthogonal Experimental Design

Objective: Through observing the effectiveness of KOA patients treated by corresponding therapeutic methods based on 4 factors, 2 levels orthogonal experimental design, differentations among groups are revealed and much more effective therapeutic plan for KOA are discussed and optimized. Methods: According to L8(27) methords, 72 cases of patients of KOA were randomly divided into 8 groups schemed by 4 factors: A,health guidance; B,stimulation mode; C,additional local points selection, and D,time interval and 2 levels orthogonal designs, The following three indexes were performed: moving pain (recording the points by VAS), walking time in 15 metres, clinical integral of symptoms and signs before treating, 7 days and 14 days after treating , then analyzed them by statistical methods. Results: Generally, all groups get positive clinical effects on KOA after treatment (the 3 indexes all obtain significant statistical significance,P<0.05).7 days'result indicates that differentations of 2 levels of factor A,B,C,and D get statistical significance(P<0.05), and level 2 of factors related are more effective; 14 days'results indicates that differentations of 2 levels of factor A,B,and C get statistical significance(P<0.05), and level 2 are also much more effective. Conclusion: The best combination, according to the statistics, are optimized as the follows: Additional selecting of local points, warm-acupuncture stimulating,treating once every day and giving health guidance in the first week;additional selecting of local points, warm-acupuncture stimulating, giving health guidance and treating every day or every other day should rely on the personalities during the second week.