title: [Efficacy observation of knee osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the conventional acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three cases of KOA were treated with the conventional acupuncture therapy at Liang-qiu (ST 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), etc. The conventional acupuncture therapy lasted for 4 weeks (at least 3 treatments and less than 5 times each week). At the end of treatment, the follow-up visit lasted for 4 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were adopted for the efficacy assessments of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 73 cases, 49 cases accomplished the trial. The data of the lost cases were included in the final data analysis. At the end of 4-week treatment and the follow-up visit, every score in VAS and WOMAC was decreased The conventional acupuncture therapy reduces the joint pain for apparently (P < 0.001, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the patients with KOA and improves the joint function. The 4-week follow-up visit indicates that the efficacy of acupuncture is still sustained.
authors.affiliation: Department of TCM, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Hong-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shao-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome