Clinical Observations on Pricking-cupping Bloodletting Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of pricking-medicinal cupping bloodletting therapy for knee osteoarthritis.MethodSixty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to pricking-cupping bloodletting (treatment) and conventional treatment (control) groups, 30 cases each. In the treatment group, specific points around the knee were pricked with bloodletting needles and blood was removed by cupping with decoction. In the control group, the same points were given acupuncture and the affected part was given microwave treatment. The WOMAC score was recorded in the two groups of patients before treatment and after the end of treatment course. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by comparing the pre-and post-treatment scores between the two groups.ResultThere was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the WOMAC total score in the two groups (P<0.01). The range of decrease in the WOMAC total score was significantly larger in the treatment group than in the control group. There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the WOMAC total score between the two groups (P<0.01). The WOMAC item scores decreased in varying degrees in both groups after treatment (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was statistically higher in the treatment group than in the control group; there was a statistically significantdifference (P<0.05). The clinical therapeutic effect was statistically better in the treatment group than in the control group.Conclusion Pricking-medicinal cupping bloodletting is statistically better than conventional treatment in treating knee osteoarthritis. It can effectively relieve the pain and stiffness and improve knee function and the quality of life in the patients.