Date of Award
Spring 2021
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Erin Wolf
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition that affects the joints of the body, most commonly the knees; it has the potential to cause debilitating pain, and stiffness and decrease quality of life. The current management involves lifestyle modifications of a healthy diet and exercise as well as analgesics like NSAIDs or acetaminophen to manage symptoms. Long-term use of these medications has been associated with many side effects affecting the GI and CV system. This review analyzes the use of acupuncture therapy (I) for symptom management (O) in patients aged 60-80 years old suffering from mild to moderate OA of the knee (P) as compared to sham acupuncture (C).
Methods: A literature search was conducted through Google Scholar, EBSCOhost and PubMed in November 2019. A total of seven articles consisting of randomized control trials or systematic reviews were selected due to multiple inclusion and exclusion criteria such as publication date, acupuncture technique, and age of participants. The study design and results of these articles were then analyzed and compared.
Results: As a whole, the evidence collected by each of the respective studies demonstrated statistically significant improvement in OA symptoms when patients were treated with acupuncture. Six of the seven studies found significant improvement in pain when acupuncture was compared to a control. Four studies found statistically significant improvement in function and all the studies that looked at stiffness and VAS pain score as a primary outcome found acupuncture to result in a greater improvement than the control. Negative results were not found in any of the studies that compared acupuncture to sham acupuncture, medication, or other controls. No side effects from acupuncture were reported in the studies. Of the 25 outcomes investigated in the seven studies, 18 were found have statistically significant improvement from acupuncture.
Discussion: Each study found acupuncture to have a significant positive result within at least one outcome measured. Primary outcomes were fairly consistent among the studies, with WOMAC pain and function being the most common outcomes. Although the results found were positive, deficiencies within the study designs decrease the validity of these results. Smaller sample populations and limited long-term data from acupuncture therapy prevent the findings from reaching an optimal statistical power and validity. Further studies are required to establish acupuncture therapy as a standalone treatment option for OA of the knee, as acupuncture would need to be compared with analgesics within long term studies.
Conclusion: Acupuncture has been used in medicine for thousands of years for pain relief, but there has been little evidence in its efficacy on OA management. The studies analyzed within this review had found significant improvement in OA symptoms following acupuncture therapy. Additional long-term studies are required to have clinical significance, and to establish acupuncture therapy as a standalone treatment option for OA of the knee. However, the results do show that acupuncture is not placebo, which is evident in that most of the outcomes acupuncture had a statistically significant improvement when compared to the control. These findings show acupuncture as a viable option in short term relief of symptoms. Future research is required in order to change the standard of practice in knee OA management.
Recommended Citation
Bartell, Reece, "Acupuncture Therapy in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee" (2021). Capstone Showcase. 65.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2021/pa/65
Included in
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Family Medicine Commons, Orthopedics Commons, Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathy Commons, Primary Care Commons
Acupuncture Therapy in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Abstract
Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition that affects the joints of the body, most commonly the knees; it has the potential to cause debilitating pain, and stiffness and decrease quality of life. The current management involves lifestyle modifications of a healthy diet and exercise as well as analgesics like NSAIDs or acetaminophen to manage symptoms. Long-term use of these medications has been associated with many side effects affecting the GI and CV system. This review analyzes the use of acupuncture therapy (I) for symptom management (O) in patients aged 60-80 years old suffering from mild to moderate OA of the knee (P) as compared to sham acupuncture (C).
Methods: A literature search was conducted through Google Scholar, EBSCOhost and PubMed in November 2019. A total of seven articles consisting of randomized control trials or systematic reviews were selected due to multiple inclusion and exclusion criteria such as publication date, acupuncture technique, and age of participants. The study design and results of these articles were then analyzed and compared.
Results: As a whole, the evidence collected by each of the respective studies demonstrated statistically significant improvement in OA symptoms when patients were treated with acupuncture. Six of the seven studies found significant improvement in pain when acupuncture was compared to a control. Four studies found statistically significant improvement in function and all the studies that looked at stiffness and VAS pain score as a primary outcome found acupuncture to result in a greater improvement than the control. Negative results were not found in any of the studies that compared acupuncture to sham acupuncture, medication, or other controls. No side effects from acupuncture were reported in the studies. Of the 25 outcomes investigated in the seven studies, 18 were found have statistically significant improvement from acupuncture.
Discussion: Each study found acupuncture to have a significant positive result within at least one outcome measured. Primary outcomes were fairly consistent among the studies, with WOMAC pain and function being the most common outcomes. Although the results found were positive, deficiencies within the study designs decrease the validity of these results. Smaller sample populations and limited long-term data from acupuncture therapy prevent the findings from reaching an optimal statistical power and validity. Further studies are required to establish acupuncture therapy as a standalone treatment option for OA of the knee, as acupuncture would need to be compared with analgesics within long term studies.
Conclusion: Acupuncture has been used in medicine for thousands of years for pain relief, but there has been little evidence in its efficacy on OA management. The studies analyzed within this review had found significant improvement in OA symptoms following acupuncture therapy. Additional long-term studies are required to have clinical significance, and to establish acupuncture therapy as a standalone treatment option for OA of the knee. However, the results do show that acupuncture is not placebo, which is evident in that most of the outcomes acupuncture had a statistically significant improvement when compared to the control. These findings show acupuncture as a viable option in short term relief of symptoms. Future research is required in order to change the standard of practice in knee OA management.