Acupressure combined with pharmacological treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized trial

Objectives

To test the effect of noninvasive self-performed acupressure therapy as an add-on to pharmacological treatment to manage knee main and to evaluate the improvement of pain due to intervention according to age and body mass index.

Methods

In the study, 240 participants were assigned into three groups (1) KAP group (verum acupressure and pharmacological treatment) (2) Comparison Group 1 (sham acupressure and pharmacological treatment), and (3) Comparison Group 2 (pharmacological treatment only). Outcome measures were subscales of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Visual analog scale and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. Intention–to–treat analysis was used and missing data was deal with multiple imputation method. The general linear mixed model was carried out to assess the differences between the study groups at different durations (3 months, 6 months, and 1 year).

Results

Compared with CG-1 and CG-2, participants of the KAP group reported considerable improvements in WOMAC pain (mean difference: −2.50 units; 95% CI, 3.74–1.25, and mean difference: −1.69 units; 95%CI, −3.24 to −0.13 respectively) at 1 year. Similarly, VAS pain, stiffness, and physical function were also improved among the participants of KAP group.

Conclusion

Self-administered acupressure has an additive effect to the pharmacological treatment to improve pain, stiffness, and physical function as compared to pharmacological treatment only.