Variable-frequency electroacupuncture for elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of variable-frequency electroacupuncture treatment for elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods One hundred and twenty patients with knee oste-oarthritis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was treated with variable-frequency electroaeupuncture, while the control group was treated with muscle strength training. Before treatment and after 8 weeks of treatment, the motor function of their knee joints was evaluated according to Lysholm' s knee scoring scale, quadriceps muscle strength was evaluated according to the maximum load capacity of knee ex-tension, and postural stability was evaluated using a static balance function test. Results Lysholm scores in the treatment group improved significantly compared with those before treatment, except for the item assessing support-ing. While in the control group, compared with before treatment, there were significant differences in the items as-sessing limp, inter-locking, instability, pain and stair activity. There were significant differences in the items as-sessing inter-locking, pain, swelling, stair activity and.squatting between the two groups after treatment. The maxi-mum knee extension load improved significantly in both groups. Static balance with the eyes both open and closed also improved significantly in both groups. There were significant difference in the length, covered area, rectangle-area and length/area of the sway traces of the two groups after treatment. Conclusions Variable-frequency elec-troacupuneture can effectively improve knee function, quadriceps muscle strength and postural stability in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis.