Placebo Response of Different Types of Sham Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis

This study aimed to recruit 150 patients with knee osteoarthritis from the hospital outpatient department. Random coding was generated using a computer network-based random system, and the subjects will be divided into five groups: real acupuncture, non-acupuncture at real-acupoint, shallow acupuncture at real-acupoint, shallow acupuncture at non-meridian and non-acupoint, and waiting treatment group in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. Acupuncture sessions were conducted three times a week for two weeks. Patients in the waiting treatment group did not receive acupuncture therapy during the study period but received acupuncture treatment after the trial. Outcome measures included Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score, Visual Analogue Pain (VAS) score, Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (MASS) needle sensation score, and blind evaluation scale. Data collection occurred at baseline, one week, and two weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis.
• Age over 40 years old.

Exclusion criteria

• Tuberculosis, tumors, rheumatism of the knee joint, and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Sprain or trauma in the lower limb.
• Mental disorders.
• Severe cardiovascular disease, liver or kidney impairment, immunodeficiency, diabetes mellitus, blood disorder or skin disease.
• Pregnancy or lactation.
• Use of physiotherapy for osteoarthritis knee pain in the past month; use of intra-articular injection of glucocorticoid or viscosupplementation in the past 6 months; received knee-replacement surgery; and positive floating patella test.