ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to observe the clinical effect of Du-Huo Ji-Sheng (DHJS) decoction with low frequency ultrasonics in treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by evaluating the visual analogue scale (VAS), Lysholm score and the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3). A total of 60 KOA outpatients were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated with DHJS decoction and low frequency ultrasonics therapy, while patients in the control group were treated with ibuprofen and low frequency ultrasonics. The treatment was given once a day for two weeks. The pretreatment and posttreatment VAS, Lysholm score and expression levels of TGF-β and MMP-3, which were detected by ELISA, were recorded. The results showed that compared with the control group, DHJS decoction with low frequency ultrasonics therapy could alleviate pain as well as improve the activity of joint function among KOA patients. It could also increase the content of TGF-βin serum, and suppress the level of MMP-3. It was concluded that low frequency ultrasonics could enhance the transdermal absorption of DHJS decoction, relieve the clinical symptoms of KOA patients.