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This Evidence Summary is based on the following systematic review:
Lin X, Huang K, Zhu G, et al. The Effects of Acupuncture on Chronic Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016 Sep 21;98(18):1578-85. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.15.00620. PubMed
In people who have long-term knee pain due to osteoarthritis, does acupuncture improve pain and functioning?
Chronic knee pain is common in older people and can interfere with daily activities. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of knee pain and disability.
Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of very thin needles through the skin at specific places to help manage pain.
The researchers did a systematic review, searching for studies available until March 2015.
They found 10 randomized controlled trials with 2,007 people (average age 60 to 71 years).
Compared with usual care, no treatment, or sham acupuncture, acupuncture:
However, there were important differences in how acupuncture was performed across the studies.
In people who have long-term knee pain due to osteoarthritis, acupuncture improves short-term and long-term functioning but only short-term pain.
Effects of acupuncture vs control in people with knee osteoarthritis and long-term knee pain
Outcomes | Follow-up | Number of trials | Effect of acupuncture compared with control |
---|---|---|---|
Pain | Short term (up to 13 weeks) | 10 trials | 1.2-point improvement on a 20-point score (but could be as few as 0.6 points or as many as 2 points) |
Long term (up to 26 weeks) | 4 trials | No difference | |
Physical function | Short term (up to 13 weeks) | 9 trials | 4.6-point improvement on a 68-point score (but could be as few as 2 points or as many as 7 points) |
Long term (up to 26 weeks) | 4 trials | 2.7-point improvement on a 68-point score (but could be as few as 0.5 points or as many as 5 points) |
This Evidence Summary was originally prepared for the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal.
Published: Friday, July 28, 2017