Forty patients, randomly assigned to an experimentat and a control group, participated in a double-blind study to assess the effectiveness of acupunc ture in reducing chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis. The experimental group received treatment at standard acupuncture points, and the control group at placebo points.
Sample Count
40
Age
42-81
Control
Sham
control group(n=20)
Experiment
experimentat group(n=20)
Indicator
Evaluating responses to treatmentPhysician’s evaluation of joint tendernessRange of motion of a treated jointDegree of joint activity
Stimulation Method
MS
Induction Method
Electroacupuncture Instrument Model
Manufacturer
Frequency
Waveform
Strength
Induction Time
-
-
-
-
-
30 min
Acupuncture_Needle
Needle_Manufacturer
Needle_Depth
-
-
-
Description Treatment was performed on either a Tuesday, a Thursday or a Saturday, and continued consecutively on these days until a total of eight treatments were completed. Each treatment lasted for about half an hour, and consisted of three five-minute periods of manual twirling of the inserted needles, with interval of rest, without removal of the needles.
Clinical Trial Type
a prospective, randomized, double-blind design
Adverse Effects
In general,side effects were negligible:twopatients had mildextrava_x005fsation of blood into surrounding tissue when an acupuncture needle inadvertently enteredavein,and one patient in the control group experienced a prolonged soreness for a few days at the site of needle insertion.
Effector
Analysis before and after treatment showed a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in tenderness and subjective report of pain in both groups as evaluated by two independent observers and in activity by one observer. Comparison of responses to treatment between the two groups showed no significant (P > 0.05) difference. Thus, both experimental and control groups showed a reduction in pain after the treatments. These results may reflect the natural course of lness, and Various attitudinal and social factors.
"Efficacy of acupuncture on osteoarthritic pain. A controlled, double-blind study."
Abstract
Forty patients, randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group, participated in a double-blind study to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis. The experimental group received treatment at standard acupuncture points, and the control group at placebo points. Analysis before and after treatment showed a significant (P less than 0.05) improvement in tenderness and subjective report of pain in both groups as evaluated by two independent observers and in activity by one observer. Comparison of responses to treatment between the two groups showed no significant (P greater than 0.05) difference. Thus, both experimental and control groups showed a reduction in pain after the treatments. These results may reflect the natural course of illness, and various attitudinal and social factors."
Souce
N Engl J Med. 1975 Aug 21;293(8):375-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197508212930803.
