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Combined Effect of Laser Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Knee Osteoarthritis
Interventions
Device: Laser Acupuncture
Device: Sham Laser Acupuncture
Registration Number
NCT04188925
Lead Sponsor
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Brief Summary

Background:

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common degenerative joint disorder affected 250 million people globally. It can not only result in disability, but also associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality. The most common treatment for KOA is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. However, the effect of analgesic is limited and may complicate with side effect. Hence, many patients search for complementary and alternative medicine. Acupuncture is one of the most popular complementary treatment with good analgesic effect and less side effect. Electroacupuncture (EA) or laser acupuncture (LA) was reported effective in pain control in knee osteoarthritis patients. However, there is no study about combination effect of EA and LA.

Methods:

This protocol is a randomized controlled trial investigating the combination effect of EA and LA on KOA. Fifty participants diagnosed KOA with aged more than 50 years old and knee pain more than 3 months were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group (EA plus LA) or sham group (EA plus LA without laser output) in clinical research center. The subjects will undergo EA plus LA treatment thrice a weeks for 4 weeks. The experimental group will receive acupuncture at GB33, GB34, SP9, SP10, and ST36 with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator on the GB34+33 and SP9+10., and the LA deliver 6 Joule of energy at EX-LE5, ST35, and BL40. The subjects in sham group will receive the same way but the LA is without any laser output. Outcome measurement will include visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome (KOOS), body composition analysis, knee range of motion test, muscle stiffness test, standing on one foot test, and the 30-second chair stand test before intervention and after 4 weeks intervention. The result will be analyze and compared between the experimental group and sham group using the paired t test and one-way analysis of variance.

Objectives:

The aim of this protocol is to investigate the combination effect of EA and LA in KOA patients.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • VAS more than 3 point when daily activity
  • Kellgren-Lawrence Grading Scale grade 1 to 3 on knee X-ray
  • Provided informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • History of knee arthroplasty, traumatic injury related joint deformity,
  • Body mass index more than 35
  • pacemaker insertion, photosensitivity
  • who had undergone intra-articular injection or acupuncture in recent one month
  • other factors that may affect the evaluation of the outcome, such as psychiatric disorder or moderate mental retardation etc.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group ALaser AcupunctureTrue LA with EA
Group BSham Laser AcupunctureSham LA with EA
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change of Visual Analog ScoreThrough study completion, an average of 4 weeks

Visual Analog Score for pain during activity; change from baseline at 4 weeks; scoring from 0 to 10, and the higher scores indicate the worse condition

Use of analgesicsThrough study completion, an average of 4 weeks

Frequency of analgesics

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change of the score of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis IndexThrough study completion, an average of 4 weeks

Questionnaires for the function in patients with OA knee; change from baseline at 4 weeks; scoring from 0 to 68, and the higher scores indicate the worse condition

Change of the minutes of standing on one foot testThrough study completion, an average of 4 weeks

The patient stands on one foot with hands on hips and eye opening. The time that the patient can stand on one foot was recorded; change from baseline at 4 weeks

Change of the times of 30-second chair stand testThrough study completion, an average of 4 weeks

The patient sits on the chair with bilateral feet stepping on the ground and hands cross beyond chest. Then he/she stands up and then sits down. The definition of once is completing one standing up and then sitting down. The number of times that the patient could stand up and then sit down within 30 seconds; change from baseline at 4 weeks.

Change of the percentage of Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome ScoreThrough study completion, an average of 4 weeks

Questionnaires for the function in patients with OA knee; change from baseline at 4 weeks; scoring from 0 to 100 percentage, and the higher percentage indicates the better condition

Change of the angle of knee range of motionThrough study completion, an average of 4 weeks

The range between flexion and extension of the knee; change from baseline at 4 weeks

Change of the muscle stiffness of quadricepsThrough study completion, an average of 4 weeks

The value is measured by Myoton Digital Palpation Device; change from baseline at 4 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

🇨🇳

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

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