The Effect of Electrothermal Needle Acupuncture on Oxidative Stress Levels in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the efficacies of electrothermal needle acupuncture versus nimesulide in treating knee osteoarthritis and the relieving effects of them on the pain and explore the possible mechanism of electrothermal needle treatment for knee osteoarthritis.Method Eighty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to electrothermal needle and Western medicine groups, 40 cases each.The electrothermal needle group received electrothermal needle therapy and the Western medicine group took nimesulide sustained-release tablets.The therapeutic effects were compared after thecompletionof treatment.Therelieving effects of the two treatments on the pain were evaluated using the Pain Visual Analogue Scale(VAS).Serum SOD and MDA were measured in all the subjects before and after treatment.Result The marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate for knee osteoarthritis were higher in the electrothermal needle group than in the Western medicine group.There was no significant post-treatment difference in the VAS pain score between the electrothermal needle and Western medicine groups.After treatment, serum SOD increased and MDA decreased in the electrothermal needle group and they did not change significantly in the Western medicine group.Conclusion Electrothermal needle therapy can well relieve the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.Its relieving effect on the pain is equal to that of nimesulide.The mechanism of electrothermal needle treatment for knee osteoarthritis may be relatedto its improving bodilyoxidative stress levels.