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NCT Number: NCT03563690

Different Kinds of Acupuncture Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) a chronic disease with symptoms of persistent pain or rest pain , joint stiffness, numbness, limitation of activity and even disability, with significant associated costs and effects on individuals' life quality. Acupuncture as an approach for the management of chronic pain, is receiving increasing recognition from both the public and professionals. The aim of this study is to indicate the effects of three commonly used acupuncture treatments for KOA.

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Key information

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, Knee Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

40 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The third affiliated hospital of Zhejiang CMU

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

About this study

360 subjects with KOA recruited from six centers will be randomized to six groups ,and receive four-week acupuncture, Electro-acupuncture, Moxibustion ,Warm-needling ,sham-needle, celebrex treatment. The primary outcomes are Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and WOMAC function score.The Secondary outcomes are WOMAC pain score, WOMAC stiffness score,the Physical Activity Scale of the Elderly (PASE),knee joint swelling measurement and WHO-BREF life quality scale.The follow-up period is six months. This study will be a rigorous,randomized, sham and drug controlled trial focusing on using different kinds of acupuncture treatment for treating KOA.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Meet the Clinical Classification Criteria for Osteoarthritis of the Knee, diagnosed by specialist.
  • Aged 40-75 years old;
  • History of chronic knee pain for more than 3 months, and complain of knee pain on most days of the past month;
  • Kellgren and Lawrence Grades 1-3;
  • With related knee pain in one or both knees rated > 4 cm on a 10 cm Visual Analog Scale(VAS) (VAS:0 to 10)
  • Who volunteer to participate and sign the consent form .

Exclusion criteria

  • Knee osteoarthritis patients with gout, infection, tumor, autoimmune diseases, trauma or other causes of knee pain or knee deformities;
  • Patients who have local skin damage, poor skin conditions or coagulant dysfunction and patients who are not suitable for acupuncture;
  • Patients who are accompanied with serious medical problems or mental disorders, cognitive dysfunction，disorders of shallow sensation or who cannot cooperate with the treatment;
  • Patients who have received acupuncture or needle knife in the past month;
  • Other patients who are not suitable for acupuncture treatment.

Treatment and study plan

treatment1

Other
  • Acupoints：Liangqiu（ST34）,Xuehai（SP10）,Neixiyan（EX-LE4）,Dubi(ST35),Yanglingquan (GB34)and Yinlingquan (SP9)
  • operation: the needles will be manipulated using techniques including lifting, thrusting, twisting, and rotating, until De Qi is achieved for 30 minutes.

treatment2

Other
  • Acupoints：Needling points are the same to the above group
  • operation: The electrode will be connected Neixiyan (EX-LE4) and Dubi (ST35) and electrode wire will be connected to the electro-acupuncture apparatus using dilatational wave with a frequency of 2/100 Hz, the current intensity is within participants'tolerance, for 30 minutes.

treatment3

Other
  • Acupoints：treating points are the same to the above group
  • Operation: During treatment, participants will choose to sit with knee buckling natural 90 degrees ,with the affected knee(s) exposed. Mild moxibustion are applied at the distance of 2-3 cm away from the skin of both the Neixiyan (EX-LE4) and Dubi (ST35) for 30 minutes.

treatment4

Other
  • Acupoints：Needling points are the same to the above group
  • Operation: Warm-needling acupuncture are applied at both Neixiyan (EX-LE4) and Dubi (ST35). That is to insert one zhuang(about 2cm)of Huai Qing Ai on the top of the needle, and burn the moxa at the lower end ,each acupoint applied 2 Zhuang for 30 minutes.

treatment5

Other
  • points：Sham Liangqiu（ST34）,Sham Xuehai(SP10), Sham Neixiyan(EX-LE4), Sham Yanglingquan(GB34),Sham Yinlingquan (SP9)
  • Operation: Sham acupuncture with non-meridian and non-acupoint needling method, respectively acupuncture 1cm away lateral to the above sham acupoints with a 0.18 * 25mm single-use needle with the depth of 1-2mm.

Celebrex

Drug

Drug: Celebrex (Celebrex, Capsules, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd), which will be applied 1 time daily( taken 0.2g one time orally ) Time of treatment :4 weeks Other Name: celecoxib

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Score change

    Time frame: baseline,2 weeks, 4 weeks ,3 months,6months

    Intensity of pain range (lately 3 days' average): 0 =no pain to 10 =worst possible pain. Higher score indicating severe pain.

  2. WOMAC function change

    Time frame: baseline,2 weeks,4 weeks ,3 months,6months

    The WOMAC function subscale referred to the participant's ability to move around and perform usual activities of daily living. The WOMAC function subscale was comprised of 17 questions regarding the degree of difficulty experienced due to OA in the study knee. The WOMAC function subscale score for each question ranged from 0 (minimum) to 4 (maximum), higher scores signified worse physical function. An overall score range of 0 (minimum) to 68 (maximum), with higher scores indicating worse physical function.

Secondary outcomes

  1. WOMAC pain change

    Time frame: baseline,2 weeks,4weeks ,3 months,6months

    The WOMAC pain subscale referred to the patient's pain. It was comprised of 5 items, with each item scored from 0 (minimum) to 4 (maximum), where 4 indicated worst pain condition. An overall score range of 0 (minimum) to 20 (maximum), with higher scores indicating worse physical function.

  2. WOMAC stiffness change

    Time frame: baseline,2 weeks,4 weeks ,3 months,6months

    The WOMAC stiffness subscale was comprised of 2 questions regarding the degree of stiffness experienced in the study knee. The WOMAC stiffness subscale score for each question ranged from 0 (minimum) to 4 (maximum), higher scores signified worse stiffness. An overall score range of 0 (minimum) to 8 (maximum), with higher scores indicating more stiffness.

  3. PASE change

    Time frame: baseline,2 weeks,4 weeks ,3 months,6months

    Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly was comprised of 36 questions regarding physical activity of elderly's house hold,leisure,work performance with different score weight.The higher scores indicating better physical activity.

  4. Quality of life change

    Time frame: baseline,2 weeks,4 weeks ,3 months,6months

    WHO-BREF 36-Item Form assessing quality of life was comprised of 26 items which measured the following broad domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment.With higher scores indicating better quality of life.

  5. Knee swelling measurement change

    Time frame: baseline,2 weeks, 4 weeks ,3 months,6months

    0-3 score indicating swelling and average Knee circumference of three times.

  6. Expectancy questionnaires

    Time frame: baseline

    Expectancy questionnaires were comprised of two brief items assessing the expectancy of the patients about acupuncture(or/and)moxibustion.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Other Gov

Collaborators

  • Jiaxing TCM Hospital
  • Red Cross Hospital, Hangzhou, China
  • The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
  • Zhejiang Hospital
  • Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM
  • Zhejiang Provincial Tongde Hospital

Registry information

Official study title

Different Kinds of Acupuncture Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis：a Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2022
First posted
Jun 20, 2018
Registry last updated
Jun 8, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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