None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The study firstly aims to compare the effectiveness of laser acupuncture to sham laser acupuncture in people suffering from chronic knee pain. Secondly, the study aims to compare laser acupuncture to needle acupuncture in people suffering from chronic knee pain. And thirdly, the study aims to compare laser acupuncture, sham laser acupuncture and needle acupuncture to no treatment for chronic knee pain. The study hypothesis is that laser acupuncture will be more effective than sham laser acupuncture or no treatment and will be equal or more effective than needle acupuncture in treating people suffering from chronic knee pain.
Interventions
There are two intervention groups, laser acupuncture and needle acupuncture. Needle acupuncture involves the use of acupuncture needles and laser acupuncture involves the aiming of laser light with a small pen-like device which is applied to the skin. The acupuncture (for both needle and laser groups) is delivered by General Practitioners who are Fellows of the College of Medical Acupuncture. There will be 8-12 treatment sessions over 12 weeks of 20 minutes per treatment. the number of treatment
There are two intervention groups, laser acupuncture and needle acupuncture. Needle acupuncture involves the use of acupuncture needles and laser acupuncture involves the aiming of laser light with a small pen-like device which is applied to the skin. The acupuncture (for both needle and laser groups) is delivered by General Practitioners who are Fellows of the College of Medical Acupuncture. There will be 8-12 treatment sessions over 12 weeks of 20 minutes per treatment. the number of treatment sessions will be determined by the treating General Practitioner (GP).
Sponsors
The University of Melbourne, School of Physiotherapy
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria will be community-based patients over the age of 50 years with pain, stiffness or both in one or both knees and able to give written, informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria will be serious knee joint pathology (e.g. inflammatory arthritis, acute trauma, history of intra-articular fracture or malignancy), compensable knee injury, previous knee joint replacement, being on the waiting list for knee surgery, use of acupuncture within the past 12 months, needle phobia, bleeding diatheses or use of oral anticoagulant medication, knee pain arising from other structures (e.g. hip or spine), neurological disease affecting the lower limbs, having a separate injury that may influence the perception of pain, have been referred to a pain clinic or have evidence of neuropathic pain syndrome.
Outcome results
None listed