A pilot study on using acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA)

Kazunori Itoh¹ , Satoko Hirota² , Yasukazu Katsumi² , Hideki Ochi¹ and Hiroshi Kitakoji¹

¹Department of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, Kyoto 629-0392, Japan

²Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, Kyoto 629-0392, Japan

author email corresponding author email

Chinese Medicine 2008, 3:2doi:10.1186/1749-8546-3-2


Published:	29 February 2008

Abstract

Background

The present study tests whether a combined treatment of acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is more effective than acupuncture or TENS alone for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Thirty-two patients with knee OA were randomly allocated to four groups. The acupuncture group (ACP) received only acupuncture treatment at selected acupoints for knee pain; the TENS group (TENS) received only TENS treatment at pain areas; the acupuncture and TENS group (A&T) received both acupuncture and TENS treatments; the control group (CT) received topical poultice (only when necessary). Each group received specific weekly treatment five times during the study. Outcome measures were pain intensity in a visual analogue scale (VAS) and knee function in terms of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).

Results

The ACP, TENS and A&T groups reported lower VAS and WOMAC scores than the control group. Significant reduction in pain intensity (P = 0.039) and significant improvement in knee function (P = 0.008) were shown in the A&T group.

Conclusion

Combined acupuncture and TENS treatment was effective in pain relief and knee function improvement for the sampled patients suffering from knee OA.