ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the clinical effectiveness of the ten most often used acupoints, chosen through literature review, for treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Additionally, the study aims to monitor and analyse the therapeutic effects of combining electro-acupuncture with these acupoints in the treatment of KOA. Methodology: A total of 80 patients were randomised in a random manner to either the treatment group or the control group, with an equal distribution of 40 patients in each group. The treatment group was administered a combination of electro-acupuncture (EA) and traditional acupuncture (TA), targeting the top ten acupoints often used. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the clinical effectiveness, WOMAC scores, VAS ratings, and SF-36 scores before and after treatment in both groups. Results: Prior to treatment, there were no statistically significant variations in the three scores between the two groups (P>0.05). Following the therapy, both groups exhibited noteworthy decreases in WOMAC and VAS scores. Notably, the treatment group displayed considerably lower values compared to the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the SF-36 ratings for physical health and mental health showed a significant increase in both groups after treatment. The treatment group achieved significantly higher scores than the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the treatment group exhibited a more significant enhancement in scores in comparison to the control group (P<0.05). Significant differences in WOMAC, VAS, and SF-36 scores were seen in the within-group comparisons (P<0.05). The treatment group demonstrated a significantly higher overall success rate of 92.50% (37/40) compared to the control group's success rate of 75.00% (30/40) (P=0.035<0.05). In conclusion, the combination of EA and TA, along with the use of the top ten high-frequency acupoints, effectively enhanced clinical symptoms and signs in patients with KOA, indicating promising therapeutic outcomes. EA had higher clinical efficacy and had a good influence on patients' quality of life, compared to the other strategy. The acupoint prescription was carefully determined by analysing available literature to investigate the patterns of acupoint selection in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study led to the identification of the 10 most often used acupoints, which were then confirmed through clinical practice. The novel methodology employed by EA, in conjunction with the utilisation of the top ten high-frequency acupoints, holds significant value in terms of its potential for promotion in Malaysia.