Sadia Ahsin, Mohammad Aslam, Salman Saleem, Ahsin M Bhatti.
Role of electroacupuncture in treatment of osteoarthritis knee: a single blind sham controlled study.
Rawal Med J Jan ;35(1):41-4.

Objectives: To determine the effect of electroacupuncture on intensity of pain and functional status in primary osteoarthritis of knee. Patients and Methods: Forty patients over 40 years of age with primary osteoarthritis of knee completed this single blinded, sham controlled study. They were divided into two groups, one received true electroacupuncture treatment on six specific acupuncture points according to Chinese Meridian Theory. Placebo group received Sham acupuncture at random points away from true points without current. Both groups received treatment for ten days with each session lasting for 20 minutes. Pre and post treatment Western Ontario Mc Master Universities Index for Osteoarthritis knee (WOMAC) for osteoarthritis and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain was recorded. Results: Following true Electroacupuncture treatment, there was significant clinical improvement in WOMAC and VAS (p value 0.00). Following sham there was no significant improvement in pain on VAS, however on WOMAC subscore of pain there was some improvement but overall improvement on WOMAC index did not reach statistical significance. No significant adverse effects of treatment could be observed. Conclusion: Objective: improvement in pain, disability and stiffness in true electroacupuncture group was shown well above that of sham treatment. (Rawal Med J 2010;35: 41-44).

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