Effects of Intensity of Electroacupuncture on Chronic Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Arthritis Res Ther

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Rheumatology

Date 2019 May 16

PMID 31088511

Citations 55

Authors

Zheng-Tao Lv

Lin-Lin Shen

Bing Zhu

Zhao-Qing Zhang

Chao-Yang Ma

Guo-Fu Huang

Jing Yin

Ling-ling Yu

Si-Yi Yu

Ming-Qiao Ding

Jing Li

Xiao-Cui Yuan

Wei He

Xiang-Hong Jing

Man Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is impaired in people with chronic pain such as knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The purpose of this randomized, controlled clinical trial was to investigate whether strong electroacupuncture (EA) was more effective on chronic pain by strengthening the CPM function than weak EA or sham EA in patients with KOA.

Methods: In this multicenter, three-arm parallel, single-blind randomized controlled trial, 301 patients with KOA were randomly assigned. Patients were randomized into three groups based on EA current intensity: strong EA (> 2 mA), weak EA (< 0.5 mA), and sham EA (non-acupoint). Treatments consisted of five sessions per week, for 2 weeks. Primary outcome measures were visual analog scale (VAS), CPM function, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).

Results: Three hundred one patients with KOA were randomly assigned, among which 271 (90.0%) completed the study (mean age 63.93 years old). One week of EA had a clinically important improvement in VAS and WOMAC but not in CPM function. After 2 weeks treatment, EA improved VAS, CPM, and WOMAC compared with baseline. Compared with sham EA, weak EA (3.8; 95% CI 3.45, 4.15; P < .01) and strong EA (13.54; 95% CI 13.23, 13.85; P < .01) were better in improving CPM function. Compared with weak EA, strong EA was better in enhancing CPM function (9.73; 95% CI 9.44, 10.02; P < .01), as well as in reducing VAS and total WOMAC score.

Conclusion: EA should be administered for at least 2 weeks to exert a clinically important effect on improving CPM function of KOA patients. Strong EA is better than weak or sham EA in alleviating pain intensity and inhibiting chronic pain.

Trial Registration: This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR-ICR-14005411 ), registered on 31 October 2014.

Citing Articles

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PMID: 39679112 PMC: 11639502. DOI: 10.5606/tftrd.2024.13186.

Curative Effect of Electroacupuncture and Manual Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis.

Luo H, Jing C, Liu H Iran J Public Health. 2024; 53(9):1951-1963.

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Hemoglobin α-derived peptides VD-hemopressin (α) and RVD-hemopressin (α) are involved in electroacupuncture inhibition of chronic pain.

Yuan X, Guo Y, Yi H, Hou X, Zhao Y, Wang Y Front Pharmacol. 2024; 15:1439448.

PMID: 39411061 PMC: 11473328. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1439448.

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