To observe the curative effect of Chinese drugs-paste separated moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture (EA) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
A total of 124 cases of KOA patients were randomly and equally divided into moxibustion plus electroacupunture (M + EA) group and medication group by using a random table. Chinese drugs-paste separated moxibustion was applied to Shenque (CV 8) for 9 moxa-cones, combined with EA (4 Hz/20 Hz, 1-2 mA) of Liangqiu (ST 34), Heding (EX-LE 2), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), etc. for 30 min, once daily, 5 sessions a week. Patients of medication group were treated by oral administration of Antine Capsule (diclofenac sodium, 50 mg, twice daily). After 4 weeks of treatment, the therapeutic effect was evaluated.
Compared with pre-treatment, the knee-joint pain scores and the index of severity of osteoarthritis of both M + EA and medication groups decreased significantly after termination of the treatment and 10 weeks after the treatment (P < 0.01), and those of M + EA group were markedly lower than those of medication group (P < 0.05). After the treatment, of the two cases in medication and M + EA groups, 3 (4.8%) and 8 (12.9%) were under control in their symptoms, 16 (25.8%) and 21 (33.9%) had remarkable improvement, 31 (50.0%) and 27 (43.5%) were effective, 12 (19.4%) and 6 (9.7%) failed in the treatment, with the effective rates being 80.6% and 90.3% respectively. Ten weeks after the treatment, of the two 62 cases in medication and M + EA groups, 1 (1.6%) and 7 (11.3%) were under control, 10 (16.1%) and 19 (30.6%) had marked improvement, 31 (50.0%) and 28 (45.2%) were effective, 20 (32.3%) and 8 (12.9%) failed in the treatment, with the effective rates being 67.7% and 87.1%, respectively. The curative effect of M + EA group was significantly superior to that of medication group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).
Chinese drugs-paste-separated moxibustion combined with EA is effective in the treatment of KOA of cold-damp type.