研究单位：[1]Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine[2]Beijing science and technology commission[3]Beijing science and technology commission[4]Beijing Hostipal of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital medical University,Beijing,Beijing,China,100000[5]Guang'an Men Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,Beijing,Beijing,China,100053[6]Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine,Beijing,Beijing,China,100078[7]Dongfang Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Beijing,Beijing,China,100078[8]Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Beijing,Beijing,China,100700[9]Hospital of acupuncture-Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,Beijing,Beijing,China,100700[10]Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University,Beijin,Beijing,China,100050[11]Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine,Hebei,Hebei,China,050011[12]First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Tianjin,Tianjin,China,300193
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), also called degenerative knee disease, is one of the most common bone and joint diseases in clinic. It was estimated to affect more than 9 million individuals in the United States in 2005 and is a leading cause of disability and medical costs. Most elderly people over the age of 65 have radiographic and/or clinical evidence of osteoarthritis. KOA is a lifelong disease which can lead to obvious pain, joint stiffness, limitation of activity and even joint failure or disability. Acupuncture is a popular treatment taken from ancient Chinese medicine, in which fine needles are placed into the body at specific points. Studies have shown that acupuncture can stimulate nerves under the skin, causing the body to produce natural pain-relieving substances (endorphins). However the evidences of acupuncture for KOA are contradictory. According to the review, intensive acupuncture with three sessions a week is more effective for KOA than sparse acupuncture with one session a week. Moreover, the papers published in the past years suggest that manual acupuncture and electro-acupuncture are most commonly used acupuncture therapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of intensive electro-acupuncture or manual acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in reducing pain and improving function in patients with KOA.
