Preliminary clinical randomized controlled trial on knee osteoarthritis treated with moxibustion

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on pain, stiffness and physical dysfunction caused by knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and make an assessment on the effectiveness and safety of this therapy. Methods Fifty-nine cases of KOA were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (31 cases) and a sham-moxibustion group (28 cases). The treatment of moxibustion was given at Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35) and Ashi points with real moxa cone in the moxibustion group and sham moxa cone in the sham-moxibustion group, 3 cones on each point per time, once every two days, 3 times per week for consecutively 6 weeks. The results were recorded in week 3 and 6 of the treatment, and the follow-up visit was performed 6 weeks after the end of treatment. The Western Ontario and Mcmaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the shortest walking time of 46 m were adopted to evaluate the recovery situation of joint function. The UT-325 digital thermal detector was put to use to record the temperature change in the most obvious painful points of knee joint before and after the moxibustion. Results All the scores of WOMAC in the moxibustion group were apparently decreased in week 3 and 6 of the treatment as well as the follow-up visit, separately (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001). The stiffness score of follow-up visit in the sham-moxibustion group, compared before the treatment, was lowered (P<0.05). The scores of pain, stiffness and physical function in the moxibustion group had a greater decrease than those in the sham-moxibustion group in week 6 of treatment and the follow-up visit (P<0.01, P<0.05). The shortest walking time of 46 m in the moxibustion group after 6 weeks of the treatment was apparently reduced as compared with that before treatment (P<0.01), but there was no apparent improvement in the sham-moxibustion group (P>0.05), and the between-group difference was not significant statistically (P>0.05). The temperature of treatment point after the moxibustion was (49.81 +/- 3.10) degrees C in the moxibustion group and (40.98 +/- 1.67) degrees C in the sham-moxibustion group, which was both increased apparently as compared with that before the treatment (P<0.001, P<0.01), and more obviously in the moxibustion group (P<0,001). Conclusion The moxibustion, which can obviously improve the clinical symptoms of the patients with KOA, such as pain, stiffness and physical dysfunction, is safe and effective.