Influences of De Qi induced by acupuncture on immediate and accumulated analgesic effects in patients with knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background De Qi is a special sensational response upon acupuncture needling. According to traditional acupuncture theory, the treatment is “effective only after Qi arrival”; that is, De Qi is an important indicator of therapeutic efficacy and good prognosis. However, it is still disputable whether De Qi improves the efficacy of acupuncture therapy. This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to explore the influence of De Qi induced by acupuncture on immediate and accumulated analgesic effects in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).