Comparison the effect of lateral wedge insole and acupuncture in medial compartment knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial

Knee. 2013 Dec 27. pii: S0968-0160(13)00249-4. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2013.12.002.

Ashraf A1, Zarei F2, Hadianfard MJ3, Kazemi B3, Mohammadi S3, Naseri M4, Nasseri A2, Khodadadi M5, Sayadi M6.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There is lack of well-designed trials evaluating structural benefits of non-pharmacologic therapies in knee osteoarthritis (OA). In this parallel-group randomized controlled trial, we aim to compare the possible advantages of lateral wedge insole and acupuncture in patients with medial knee OA.

METHOD:

Patients with grade two or three of medial knee OA were randomly allocated to group one who received an in shoe lateral wedge and group two who underwent acupuncture. We assessed patients' pain, function and knee joint cartilage thickness before and after intervention. Paired t-test and independent samples t-test were used for in group and between group analyses. (Level of evidence: 2.) 

RESULTS: Twenty patients in each group were recruited in the study. Pain significantly decreased after therapy in both groups one and two (paired t test, P<0.001, 95% CI: 1.62-3.25 and 1.58-3.20 respectively). Function improved in each group (paired t test, P=0.001, 95% CI of 0.94-2.38 in group one and 0.97-2.43 in group two). A non-clinically statistically significant difference regarding the femoral and tibial cartilage thickness was obtained in both groups one (P=0.005, CI: -0.43-0.82 and P=0.037, CI: -0.44-0.80 respectively) and two (P=0.025, CI: -0.45-0.79 and P=0.035, CI: -0.29-0.96 respectively). Between groups analysis showed no significant difference regarding abovementioned measures.

CONCLUSION:

Both lateral wedge insole and acupuncture can be effective in the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis without any superiority of one over the other. 

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Acupuncture, Knee osteoarthritis, Lateral wedge insole, Magnetic resonance imaging

Efficacy observation of carpal tunnel syndrome treated with electroacupuncture

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2013 Aug;33(8):700-2.

Xia Q, Liu XW, Wang XL, Tao Y.

Author information

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the impacts of electroacupuncture on median nerve conduction velocity and morphology in patients of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture on CTS.

METHODS:

Thirty cases of CTS were treated with electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Yangchi (TE 4), Shousanli (LI 10), Neiguan (PC 6) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side, combined with semiconductor laser irradiation at Shenmen (HT 7) and Yangxi (LI 5) on the affected side. The improvements in the symptoms and changes in nerve conduction velocity and ultrasound morphology were observed before and after treatment.

RESULT:

The clinical total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30). The median nerve conduction velocity was accelerated apparently and the amplitude was increased after treatment as compared with those before treatment, indicating the statistically significant difference (all P<0.001). The distal motor latency was shortened apparently (P<0.001) and the motor amplitude had no apparent change (P>0.05). The proximal median nerve swelling was relieved apparently after treatment (P<0.05) and the effective rate was 36.7% (11/30). There was no apparent difference in the ratio of the vertical and horizontal diameters of carpal tunnel after treatment as compared with that before treatment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Electroacupuncture presents the positive repair function to the median nerve in the patients of CTS. It can effectively alleviate inflammatory reaction and relieve ischemia and swelling of nerve fibers. And it cannot induce the changes in morphology in a short term.