To evaluate the clinical efficacy of warm-needling moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to explore its effects on isokinetic strength of lower limb muscle.
Fifty cases of KOA were randomly divided into an observation group (25 cases) and a control group (21 cases), but 4 cases lost contact. The observation group was treated with warm-needling moxibustion at Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Weizhong (BL 40), Heyang (BL 55) and Fengshi (GB 31) for 40 min per treatment. The first 6 treatments were given once a day, and the last 6 treatments were given once every other day. 12 treatments were taken as one course, and totally 3-week treatment was given. No treatment was given in the control group for 3 weeks. The isokinetic strength of extensor muscle and flexor muscle, including the total work, absolute peak torque (aPT) and relative peak torque (rPT), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and comprehensive efficacy were observed and compared in the two groups.
Compared before treatment, the total work, aPT and rPT of the extensor and flexor muscle increased significantly after treatment in the observation group (
Warm-needling moxibustion could relieve pain, improve function and muscle balance, strengthen extensor and flexor muscle power, especially extensor, which has superior clinical efficacy.