Clinical Study of Acupotomy for Knee Osteoarthritis Based on the Meridian-Sinew Theory: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Hua Z, Deng H, Tang H, Ruan Z, Wang P, Zhang M, Ma H, Wang P, Dong C, Huang Z, Hong H, Zhou Q, Zhou H, Cheng C, Lin W, Zhang C, Chen D · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · 2021 November 18
DOI 10.1155/2021/3987002
Objective
To investigate and compare the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy based on the meridian-sinew theory with acupotomy based on anatomical theory in patients with knee osteoarthritis, including across traditional Chinese medicine constitution subgroups.
Conclusions
The study indicates that acupotomy based on the meridian-sinew theory has effectiveness and safety equivalent to acupotomy based on anatomical theory for treating knee osteoarthritis, with improvements over time and minor adverse effects resolving without medical intervention.
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Insights
Meridian-sinew guided acupotomy relieved knee osteoarthritis symptoms as safely and effectively as anatomy-guided treatment, regardless of traditional constitution classification.
Patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive acupotomy guided either by meridian-sinew theory or by anatomical theory. Participants were also grouped according to traditional Chinese medicine constitution categories. Pain and osteoarthritis-related symptoms and function were assessed repeatedly using established pain and osteoarthritis questionnaires, while adverse effects were recorded.
Symptoms and pain decreased over time in both treatment groups, with no meaningful differences between the two approaches or among constitution-based subgroups. Only minor adverse effects were reported, and all resolved without medical treatment, indicating comparable safety for both approaches.
