The Efficacy of Acupuncture, Exercise Rehabilitation, and Their Combination in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Objective To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture, exercise rehabilitation, and their combination in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods This randomized controlled trial was done on patients with KOA, who were randomly allocated to three groups: acupuncture (AP), exercise rehabilitation (ER), or a combination of acupuncture and exercise rehabilitation (AE). The study lasted 12 weeks with 4 weeks of treatment and 8 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcome was the response rate, which was determined by the percentage of participants who experienced a significant improvement in pain and function by the fourth week. The primary analysis utilized a Z test for proportions in the modified intent-to-treat population, consisting of all randomized participants with at least one post-baseline measurement. Results Out of the 120 patients initially enrolled in the study, 110 completed the trial and were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Response rates at week 4 were 65.7% (23 out of 35), 58.3% (21 out of 36), and 83.3% (32 out of 39) in the AP, ER, and AE groups, respectively. The response rate in the AE group was found to be significantly higher than that in the ER group at week 4. No significant differences were observed in the overall response rates between the AP and ER groups, as well as between the AP and AE groups. Conclusion Our research indicates that both acupuncture and exercise rehabilitation can effectively enhance pain relief, functional improvement,…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 120 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Safety and efficacy of COVID‐19 vaccines: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled and randomized clinical trials
- Accuracy Comparison between Robot-Assisted Dental Implant Placement and Static/Dynamic Computer-Assisted Implant Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of In Vitro Studies
- Determinants of passive antibody efficacy in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Cleaning efficacy of EDDY versus ultrasonically-activated irrigation in root canals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Bonding Efficacy of Universal Resin Adhesives to Zirconia Substrates: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- In vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts and essential oils of Cinnamomum, Salvia, and Mentha spp. against foodborne pathogens: A meta-analysis study
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.