Acupuncture in Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Specific and Non-Specific Effects of Acupuncture: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial in Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 1Phase 2

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00325663

Enrollment

125

Registered

2006-05-15

Start date

2004-04-30

Completion date

2005-04-30

Last updated

2006-05-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Keywords

acupuncture, double-blind, sham control, osteoarthritis, pain

Brief summary

The aim of this study was to evalute three different acupuncture techniques, including one sham control, in its effect on osteoarthitis of the knee

Detailed description

Background: Acupuncture is one of the most frequently used complementary therapeutic approaches in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Due to methodological shortcomings of previous randomized controlled studies, controversy persists whether the observed effects are specific to acupuncture or non-specific consequences of needling. Objective: To compare classical Chinese acupuncture, semi-standardized modern acupuncture and non-specific needling by means of a double-blinded repeated measures cross-over design. Intervention: Within three weeks all patients receive three treatment modalities in a random order in a double-blind study design. Main outcome measures: Improvement in knee flexibility according to the neutral-zero method, defining a success as improvement by 10 degrees or more. Secondary parameter: improvement in pain according to the reduced WOMAC score by 50 percent or more.

Interventions

PROCEDUREAcupuncture

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

35 Years to 90 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Patients above age 35 * knee osteoarthritis grade II or III according to the Kellgren classification.

Exclusion criteria

* orthopedic deformations of the knee, * malignant disease * auto-immune disorders * surgery including arthroscopy during the past 12 months * pain medication with steroids * physical therapy or acupuncture within the last for weeks * no or a pain medication in continuous dosage

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Main outcome measures: Improvement in knee flexibility according to the neutral-zero method, defining a success as improvement by 10 degrees or more.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Secondary parameter: improvement in pain according to the reduced WOMAC score by 50 percent or more.	—

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026