NCT00325663

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
• Phase: Phase 1 / Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 125 (planned)
• Sponsor: Heidelberg University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 35 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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.

Conditions

• Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Acupuncture

Timeline

• Start date: 2004-04-01
• Completion: 2005-04-01
• First posted: 2006-05-15
• Last updated: 2006-05-15