Acupuncture in Medicine
March 2002 VOL 20(1) Page 19-21
Effect of Acupuncture on Knee Function
in Advanced Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Prospective,
Non-Randomised Controlled Study
Abhay Tillu, Sumedha Tillu, Sarah Vowler
Summary
We report a prospective controlled
trial, comparing acupuncture with no treatment, in patients
with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee awaiting total
knee replacement.
Knee function was assessed
at the beginning of study and at the end of two months,
using four parameters: HSS score, time to walk 50 metres,
time to climb 20 steps, and degree of pain. Acupuncture
was given at four local points around the knee and at one
distal point.
The acupuncture group improved
in all parameters, whereas the control group deteriorated,
a finding that was highly statistically significant (p <
0.0002). Further randomised-controlled trials with longer
follow-up are required to confirm these findings.
Key
Words
Acupuncture, knee arthritis.
Abhay B Tillu,
staff surgeon
Orthopaedics department
Bedford Hospital, Bedford
Sumedha A Tillu,
GP registrar
Bedford
Sarah Vowler,
statistician
Cambridge
Correspondence
to:
Abhay Tillu
abtillu@hotmail.com
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