Multi-center Clinical Research of Acupuncture Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Multi-center Clinical Research of Acupuncture Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a major public health problem among the elderly and is
 associated with considerable disability. A recent analysis of data indicated that about 35%
 of women and men aged 60 years and above had radiographic knee OA.Despite the high prevalence
 rate of OA, the treatment of OA is far from satisfactory. Acupuncture may be a promising
 treatment option for knee OA due to the effectiveness of the pain relief and the rarity of
 adverse effects. In order to get some more reliable data to confirm acupuncture effectiveness
 on KOA, a long-term follow up interventional study will be started to confirm the effects of
 long term for acupuncture treatment.
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a major public health problem among the elderly and is
 associated with considerable disability. A recent analysis of data from the National Health
 and Nutrition Examination Survey III indicated that about 35% of women and men aged 60 years
 and above had radiographic knee OA. Although the cause of OA can be many factors, such as
 previous injury, abnormal limb development and so on, its main symptom is a complex chronic
 pain condition. Previous studies have demonstrated central sensitization in OA patients.
 Despite the high prevalence rate of OA, the treatment of OA is far from satisfactory.
 Acupuncture could be a promising treatment option for knee OA due to the effectiveness of the
 pain relief and the rarity of adverse effects. In order to get some more reliable data to
 confirm acupuncture effectiveness on KOA, a long-term follow up interventional study with
 clear design, standard criteria, control group, will be started to confirm the effects of
 long term for acupuncture treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Male and female patients who have knee OA diagnosed according to the American College
 of Rheumatology classification criteria (with at least one osteophyte in the
 tibiofemoral joint and with a Kellgren-Lawrence grade of more than 2).

 -  Male and female patients who have had a history of moderate or greater knee pain of
 more than 3 months' duration and have reported moderate or greater, clinically
 significant, knee pain during most days of the last month before the interview.

 -  Male and female patients who have given their consent to participate in the study.

 -  Patients will be selected among those who are not on the waiting list for total knee
 arthroplasty by the traumatology unit of our hospital.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with any of the following will be excluded from the study: a history of any
 secondary OA associated with any systemic arthropathy (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis or
 gouty arthritis);

 -  Any knee treatment with steroids, methotrexate, or azathioprine; recent traumatisms
 caused by acupunctured insertion;

 -  A history of bleeding disorders or any disease related to acupuncture
 contraindications;

 -  A history of any knee injection in the previous 6 months (e.g., cortisone and
 hyaluronic acid); a history of morphine or morphine derivative use.