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Chinese Medicine Involving Triple Rehabilitation Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis in 696 Outpatients: A Multi-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the effects of Chinese medicine (CM) involving triple rehabilitation therapy on the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods

A total of 722 patients recruited from 38 community health service centers located in China from March 2013 to March 2017 were randomly divided into treatment and control groups equally, using a cluster randomization design. Health education combined with CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy for KOA (electro-acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herb fumigating-washing, and traditional exercises) was administered in the treatment group while conventional rehabilitation therapy (physical factor therapy, joint movement training, and muscle strength training) was administered in the control group. Patients with a visual analog scale (VAS) scores ≽4 were treated with dispersible meloxicam tablets (7.5 mg, once daily). The Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, range of motion (ROM), lower limb muscle strength, knee joint circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and the short-form 36 item health survey questionnaire (SF-36) scores were measured for each patient at 5 checkpoints (before treatment, at the 2nd week and the 4th week during the 4-week treatment period, at 1 month and 3 months after end of treatment), and adverse reactions were observed also.

Results

A total of 696 patients completed the entire process, with 351 in the treatment group and 345 in the control group. At all treatment checkpoints, the treatment group demonstrated better outcomes than the control group with regard to the total Lequesne index scores, effective rate and improvement rate of the total Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, lower limb muscle strength, knee circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and SF-36 scores as well (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No adverse reactions were encountered in this study.

Conclusions

CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy can alleviate KOA-related pain and swelling, improve lower limb muscle strength, promote flexion and activity of the knee and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing KOA. It is suitable for patients with early or mid-stage KOA. (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002538)

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by Associate Professor **e B, director of the Guangdong Province Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Foshan, Guangdong Province), Professor Yang JX of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangzhou, Guangdong Province), and Professor Zhang AR of the People’s Liberation Army Chengdu Military General Hospital (Chengdu, Sichuan Province).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Jie-mei Guo, Yan **ao, Jian-hui Wang, Lu-lu Huang & Shao-qing Chen

  2. Department of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Health College, Fuzhou, 350101, China

    Jie-mei Guo & Tang-yan Cai

  3. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Bao-lin Li & **ao Mao

  4. Department of Rehabilitation, Fujian Tingzhou Hospital, Longyan, Fujian Province, 366300, China

    **ng-quan Lai

  5. Department of Emergency, **aogan Chinese Medicine Hospital, **aogan, Hubei Province, 432100, China

    Ya-ju Zhu

  6. Department of Rehabilitation, Fuzhou First Hospital, Fuzhou, 350009, China

    Yi-qiang Zhang

  7. Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    You-xin Su

Authors
  1. Jie-mei Guo
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  2. Yan **ao
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  3. Tang-yan Cai
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  4. Jian-hui Wang
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  5. Bao-lin Li
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  6. Lu-lu Huang
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  7. **ao Mao
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  8. **ng-quan Lai
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  9. Ya-ju Zhu
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  10. Yi-qiang Zhang
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  11. Shao-qing Chen
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  12. You-xin Su
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Contributions

Su YX and Guo JM conceived of and designed the study. Zhu YJ, Zhang YQ, Lai XQ and Huang LL were responsible for recruiting patients. Cai TY, Wang JH, Chen SQ and Li BL were responsible for clinical data collection. **ao Y and Mao X provided efforts in data analysis. All authors participated in the writing and/or critical revision of the manuscript and approved the final version for submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to You-xin Su.

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The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Supported by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 201307004)

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Guo, Jm., **ao, Y., Cai, Ty. et al. Chinese Medicine Involving Triple Rehabilitation Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis in 696 Outpatients: A Multi-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 27, 729–736 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-021-3488-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-021-3488-6

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