Acupuncture as a complementary therapy to the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: randomised controlled trial

Jorge Vas, Camila Méndez, Emilio Perea-Milla, Evelia Vega, María Dolores et.al.

To analyse the efficacy of acupuncture as a complementary therapy to the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, with respect to pain relief, reduction of stiffness, and increased physical function during treatment; modifications in the consumption of diclofenac during treatment; and changes in the patient’s quality of life. 

Randomised, controlled, single blind trial, with blinded evaluation and statistical analysis of results.
Setting in a pain management unit in a public primary care centre in southern Spain, over a period of two years.
97 outpatients presenting with osteoarthritis of the knee were included.

Patients were randomly separated into two
groups, one receiving acupuncture plus diclofenac (n = 48) and
the other placebo acupuncture plus diclofenac (n = 49). 

The clinical variables examined
included intensity of pain as measured by a visual analogue
scale; pain, stiffness, and physical function subscales of the
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC)
osteoarthritis index; dosage of diclofenac taken during
treatment; and the profile of quality of life in the chronically ill
(PQLC) instrument, evaluated before and after the treatment
program. 

88 patients completed the trial. In the intention to treat
analysis, the WOMAC index presented a greater reduction in
the intervention group than in the control group (mean
difference 23.9, 95% confidence interval 15.0 to 32.8) The
reduction was greater in the subscale of functional activity. The
same result was observed in the pain visual analogue scale, with
a reduction of 26.6 (18.5 to 34.8). The PQLC results indicate
that acupuncture treatment produces significant changes in
physical capability (P = 0.021) and psychological functioning
(P = 0.046). Three patients reported bruising after the
acupuncture sessions.

Acupuncture plus diclofenac is more effective
than placebo acupuncture plus diclofenac for the symptomatic
treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.