[Different acupuncture and moxibustion methods at Heding (EX-LE 2) for knee osteoarthritis with yang -deficiency and cold-stagnation syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the differences for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with yang -deficiency and cold-stagnation syndrome among acupuncture plus ginger moxibustion at Heding (EX-LE 2) on the affected side, simple acupuncture and simple ginger moxibustion at the same acupoint.

METHODS: Ninety patients were randomly assigned into an acupuncture group, a ginger moxibustion group and a combination group, 30 cases in each one. Acupuncture was used in the three groups at bilateral Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), and Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Taichong (LR 3) on the affected side. Acupuncture at the affected Heding (EX-LE 2) was applied in the acupuncture group; ginger moxibustion at the affected Heding (EX-LE 2) in the ginger moxibustion group; ginger moxibustion after acupuncture at Heding (EX-LE 2) in the combination group. The treatment was given once a day, and 10 treatments made one session. There were 2 days at the interval between 2 sessions. Before and after (22/30), which was significantly higher than 46.7% (14/30) of the acupuncture group and 20.0% (6/30) of the ginger moxibustion group (both P <0.05), and the rate of the acupuncture group was higher than that of the ginger moxibustion group ( P <0.05). Conclusion Based on acupuncture, ginger moxibustion at the affected Heding (EX-LE 2) after acupuncture at the same acupoint are more effective than simple acupuncture at the affected Heding (EX-LE 2) and simple ginger moxibustion at the acupoint for KOA with yang -deficiency and cold-stagnation syndrome. two-session treatment, knee function scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and present pain intensity (PPI) score were compared in the three groups. The clinic effects were evaluated too.

RESULTS: After treatment, the knee function scores of the three groups were all higher than those before treatment (all P <0.05), and the VAS score and PPI score were lower (all P <0.05). The differences before and after treatment for knee function, VAS and PPI score of the combination group were higher than those of the other two groups (all P <0.05), and the differences of the acupuncture group were higher than those of the ginger moxibustion group (all P <0.05). The cured and remarkable effective rate of the combination group was 73.3% (22/30), which was significantly higher than 46.7% (14/30) of the acupuncture group and 20.0% (6/30) of the ginger moxibustion group (both P <0.05), and the rate of the acupuncture group was higher than that of the ginger moxibustion group ( P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on acupuncture, ginger moxibustion at the affected Heding (EX-LE 2) after acupuncture at the same acupoint are more effective than simple acupuncture at the affected Heding (EX-LE 2) and simple ginger moxibustion at the acupoint for KOA with yang -deficiency and cold-stagnation syndrome.