title: The effects of collateral meridian therapy for knee osteoarthritis pain management: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine whether collateral meridian (CM) therapy was feasible in treating knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients with knee OA and knee pain were randomly allocated to 2 groups. The CM group patients received CM therapy, whereas the control patients received placebo treatment for knee pain relief. Patients in the CM group received 2 CM treatments weekly for 3 weeks. The outcome measures were pain intensity on a visual analog scale, and knee function was determined using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the CM group, the posttreatment visual analog scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores were lower than those of the control group; a significant reduction in pain intensity (P = .02, P = .01, respectively) and improvement in knee function (P = .04, P = .03, respectively) were shown in the CM group at the second and third week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collateral meridian therapy may be feasible and effective for knee OA pain relief and knee function recovery. Therefore, additional randomized control trials are warranted.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Huei-Chi
authors: HC
authors: Horng
authors: Chang-Po
authors: CP
authors: Kuo
authors: Chen-Hwan
authors: CH
authors: Cherng
authors: Chun-Chang
authors: CC
authors: Yeh
authors: Ting-Chuan
authors: TC
authors: Wang
authors: Wen-Jinn
authors: WJ
authors: Liaw
authors: Shan-Chi
authors: SC
authors: Ko
authors: Chih-Shung
authors: CS
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects