Electroacupuncture effectively alleviates chronic pain of knee osteoarthritis.
[Effect of electroacupuncture on chronic pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis and its influence on central sensitization].
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Key Findings
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on chronic pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to investigate its influence on serum biomarkers related to central sensitization. METHODS: Ninety patients with chronic pain caused by KOA were randomly assigned to an EA group (45 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a sham-EA group (45 cases, 5 cases dropped out and 1 case was eliminated). The patients in both groups received health education. Additionally, in the EA group, EA was performed at the acupoints such as Neixiyan (EX-LE4), Dubi (ST35), Heding (EX-LE2) and Xuehai (SP10) on the affected side, with dense-disperse wave, at the frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz and the electric current of 1 mA to 2 mA, it was operated for 30 min in each session, once daily, 6 sessions a week, and for 4 consecutive weeks. In the sham-EA group, sham-EA was operated at the same acupoints as the EA group, with the same duration of interventions, but without electric stimulation exerted. In the baseline (week 0), and week 2, 4, 8 and 16, the score on numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain at rest and during activity, as well as pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at the local and distal of knee joint were observed in the two groups separately. In week 0, 4, and 16, the Western Ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12) were scored. In week 0 and 4, the score on central sensitization inventory (CSI) and the levels of serum biomarkers related to central sensitization, such as glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), substance P (SP), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the EA group showed the decrease in NRS scores at rest and during activity in week 2, 4, 8, and 16, in the scores on subscales and the total score of WOMAC in week 4 and 16, as well as in CSI score and serum levels of Glu, Gln, SP, and CGRP in week 4 (
Affiliation
Qiqi Yang
External References
- PubMed ID:
- 42443077
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