Effect and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Studies have shown that acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine has a certain effect in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

To investigate the mechanism and effect of acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

The animal models of knee osteoarthritis were established to detect the expression levels of related factors, including matrix metal oproteinase 3, transforming growth factor β, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. The knee osteoarthritis patients treated with acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine were fol owed-up, and the patients received acupuncture in the main points and the adjunct points, as wel as the Chinese medicine administration and the external application and fumigation. Then, the active function recovery of the knee joint was observed to identify the effect of acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine. RESUTLS AND

Acupuncture can delay the destruction of knee joint articular cartilage and improve the knee function through decreasing the contents of matrix metal oproteinase 3, transforming growth factor β, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, thus playing the treatment effect on knee osteoarthritis. The knee osteoarthritis patients treated with acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine can obtain better effect, and the treatment efficiency is more than 90%. Compared with the single application of sodium hyaluronate or acupuncture treatment, acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine has higher treatment efficiency and better treatment effect.