Auricular Acupressure for treating early stage of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, sham-controlled prospective study.

2021 
OBJECTIVE We examined whether auricular acupressure (AA) at four specificially preselected AA points can alleviate knee pain and decrease non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) consumption and its adverse effects for osteoarthritis patients. METHODS 62 patients (more than 40 years) with knee osteoarthritis of Kellgren-Lawrence grades of I or II upon radiographic classification were enrolled in this randomized, sham-controlled prospective study, and divided into two groups (AA group and control group). The AA group received true AA by embedding vaccaria seeds at four specific AA points (knee joint, shenmen, subcortex, sympathesis) ipsilateral to the knee osteoarthritis site, while the control group received four nonacupuncture points on the auricular helix. Visual analog scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score, the number of the patients needed celecoxib pills and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS VAS and WOMAC scores in AA group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05) at d3 and d7 postsugery. The VAS and WOMAC score were significance decreased after the treatment in AA group compared with that before the treatment (P < 0.05). The use of celebrex is significantly lower in AA group than the control group (P < 0.05), no major side effects were observed during the auricular acupressure treatment. CONCLUSION Auricular acupressure plays a role in analgesic effect and can effectively decreased NSAIDs requirements without causing adverse events for the treatment of human knee osteoarthritis.
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