Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on January 10, 2007
Rheumatology 2007 46(3):384-390; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kel413
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Acupuncture treatment for chronic knee pain: a systematic review
Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, N32 ITTC Building, Tamar Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BX, 1Primary Care Musculoskeletal Research Centre, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG and 2British Medical Acupuncture Society, BMAS London Office, Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, 60 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3HR, UK.
Correspondence to: A. White, Peninsula Medical School, N32 ITTC Building, Tamar Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BX, UK. E-mail: adrian.white{at}pms.ac.uk
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Abstract |
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Objectives. To evaluate the effects of acupuncture on pain and function in patients with chronic knee pain.
Methods. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of adequate acupuncture. Computerized databases and reference lists of articles were searched in June 2006. Studies were selected in which adults with chronic knee pain or osteoarthritis of the knee were randomized to receive either acupuncture treatment or a control consisting of sham (placebo) acupuncture, other sham treatments, no additional intervention (usual care), or an active intervention. The main outcome measures were short-term pain and function, and study validity was assessed using a modification of a previously published instrument.
Results. Thirteen RCTs were included, of which eight used adequate acupuncture and provided WOMAC outcomes, so were combined in meta-analyses. Six of these had validity scores of more than 50%. Combining five studies in 1334 patients, acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture for both pain (weighted mean difference in WOMAC pain subscale score = 2.0, 95% CI 0.57–3.40) and for WOMAC function subscale (4.32, 0.60–8.05). The differences were still significant at long-term follow-up. Acupuncture was also significantly superior to no additional intervention. There were insufficient studies to compare acupuncture with other sham or active interventions.
Conclusions. Acupuncture that meets criteria for adequate treatment is significantly superior to sham acupuncture and to no additional intervention in improving pain and function in patients with chronic knee pain. Due to the heterogeneity in the results, however, further research is required to confirm these findings and provide more information on long-term effects.
KEY WORDS: Acupuncture, Systematic review, Meta-analysis, Chronic knee pain, Osteoarthritis, WOMAC, Function
Submitted 4 July 2006;
revised version accepted 7 November 2006.
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