title: A pilot study on using acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study tests whether a combined treatment of acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is more effective than acupuncture or TENS alone for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with knee OA were randomly allocated to four groups. The acupuncture group (ACP) received only acupuncture treatment at selected acupoints for knee pain; the TENS group (TENS) received only TENS treatment at pain areas; the acupuncture and TENS group (A&T) received both acupuncture and TENS treatments; the control group (CT) received topical poultice (only when necessary). Each group received specific weekly treatment five times during the study. Outcome measures were pain intensity in a visual analogue scale (VAS) and knee function in terms of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ACP, TENS and A&T groups reported lower VAS and WOMAC scores than the control group. Significant reduction in pain intensity (P = 0.039) and significant improvement in knee function (P = 0.008) were shown in the A&T group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined acupuncture and TENS treatment was effective in pain relief and knee function improvement for the sampled patients suffering from knee OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. k_itoh@meiji-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: Yasukazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katsumi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitakoji