Warm Acupuncture in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee Joint

Abstract

Osteoarthritis of the knee (KOA) is a long-term deterioration disease in middle and old age, and its final level of disability reached 53%. In contrast to western medicine, which has many side effects such as bleeding and gastric perforation and ulceration, warm acupuncture in Chinese medicine has the advantages of easy operation and precise efficacy, in addition to circumventing the abuse of western medicine. This study presents four related combination treatments for KOA from warm acupuncture. The results show that warm acupuncture could improve knee mobility and pain. Meanwhile, warm acupuncture combined with pricking and bleeding can significantly improve knee joint motor function and pain in gouty knee osteoarthritis patients. Warm acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine could further improve the knee joint function and pain problems in KOA patients. Warm acupuncture combined with western medicine achieves a certain effect, which effectively reduces the oxidative stress response of the body and improve pain and body's motor function problems. Warm acupuncture can also be combined with multiple therapies to treat diseases synergistically and has different therapeutic effects.