| Objective: To investigate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on Meridian points for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A total of 39 patients with early-to-mid stage knee osteoarthritis were selected and randomly divided into control group (n=20) and experimental group (n=19). The patients in experimental group received ESWT on Meridians points and pain points, and the control group only received ESWT on the pain points. The Meridians spot included Xuehai and Liangqiu. For all subjects, VAS score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index(WOMAC) score and 6 minutes walk tests (6MWT) were assessed before and after 4 weeks of treatment. The Criteria of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect on Diseases and Syndromes in osteoarticular Bi-syndrome in Traditional Chinese Medicine were also used to test the effective rate after treatment. Results: When compared within groups, VAS and WOMAC scores of the two groups decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.01). For the 6MWT, the walking distance in both groups increased (P<0.05); For comparison between groups, VAS in the experimental group was significantly less than that in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in WOMAC score and 6MWT between the two groups. The effective rate was 89% in the experimental group, and 80% in the control group. There were no adverse effects in the two groups. Conclusion: ESWT on Meridians point could alleviate pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis, so as to improve the knee function and walking ability. |
