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NCT Number: NCT05238350

The Effect of Acupressure in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract Pain is the most common symptom of osteoarthritis and affects people's functional status with quality of life. This study was conducted to determine the effect of acupressure on pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients living with knee osteoarthritis. Acupressure application and follow-ups were performed by the researcher in the patient's home environment. The study was performed with 90 patients, 45 in the intervention group and 45 in the control group. Acupressure was performed two days a week for four weeks with a total of eight sessions on the ST34, ST35, ST36, SP9, SP10, GB34 acupuncture points following an acupressure practice guide prepared by the researcher. It was determined that while the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group before application, they had decreased after application. It was found that all subscale mean scores of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire increased after application in the intervention group. It was concluded that acupressure has decreased pain severity and increased the functional status and quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis, pain, nursing, acupressure.

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Key information

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, Knee Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Rheumatic Diseases Signs and Symptoms

Age range

38 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Nigde Omer Halisdemir University

Niğde, Ni̇ğde, 51240, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Abstract Background: Pain is the most common symptom of osteoarthritis and affects people's functional status with quality of life.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of acupressure on pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients living with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods/Design: The study was conducted as an experimental study with a pre-posttest and a control group.

Settings: The study was conducted on patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and attended the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Polyclinics of Nevşehir government hospital in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Acupressure application and follow-ups were performed by the researcher in the patient's home environment.

Participants: The study was performed with 90 patients, 45 in the intervention group and 45 in the control group.

Intervention: Acupressure was performed two days a week for four weeks with a total of eight sessions on the ST34, ST35, ST36, SP9, SP10, GB34 acupuncture points following an acupressure practice guide prepared by the researcher.

Measurement of efficacy: Data was collected before and after acupressure application by using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 38 years old and over
  • Diagnosed by a doctor with knee OA according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria
  • had three points and over on the VAS pain scale,
  • had no communication problems
  • did not have any significant knee trauma within the last six months or an intra-articular steroid injection
  • did not have any infection in the lower extremities or wounds, surgery or physiotherapy within the last six months
  • those who accepted to participate to the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • the patient is not willing to go on the study in any stage of the study and case of any adverse effect of acupressure.

Treatment and study plan

Acupressure

Procedure

Acupressure was performed two days a week for four weeks with a total of eight sessions on the ST34, ST35, ST36, SP9, SP10, GB34 acupuncture points following an acupressure practice guide prepared by the researcher.

Other names: Control

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain level in visual analogue scale (VAS)

    Time frame: baseline, change from baseline at 4th week;

    Pain severity scores were determined by measuring values that were chosen on VAS by patients. The numerical scale ranges from 0 "No pain", to 10 "Worst pain imaginable", and a numerical value is given to every 1 cm range to measure pain severity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index

    Time frame: baseline, change from baseline at 4th week;

    Their functional status levels were evaluated by using WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index.Every question is scored between 0 and 4 points evaluated with a five-way Likert-type scale. High scores from the index show increased pain and stiffness and dysfunction in physical function.

  2. 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)

    Time frame: baseline, change from baseline at 4th week;

    Their changes in quality of life levels were evaluated by using SF-36 scale.The scale gives separate scores for every sub-scale, which varies between 0 and 100 points. High scores on the subscales show good health status, while low scores show a deterioration in health

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

TC Erciyes University

Other

Collaborators

  • Pınar TEKİNSOY KARTIN
  • Rabiye ÇIRPAN

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Acupressure on Pain, Functional Status and Quality of Life in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Feb 14, 2022
Registry last updated
Aug 17, 2022

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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