title: Efficacy of acupuncture during post-acute phase of rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether acupuncture is effective in reducing pain and swelling around the knee and improving range of motion (ROM) during the post-acute phase of rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following TKA, 80 knees in 80 patients were randomly assigned to either an acupuncture treatment group (Group A) or a control group (Group C). In Group A, the complementary treatment of acupuncture was performed three times/week from postoperative day 7 until postoperative day 21. Outcome measures were: i) pain as assessed by a visual analog scale; ii) reduction of swelling around the knee as indicated by its circumference at the center of the patella; and iii) ROM of the affected knee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A patients had significantly reduced pain and swelling around the knees and earlier recovery of ROM than did those in Group C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture provides effective treatment during the post-acute phase of rehabilitation after TKA with respect to pain relief, reduction of swelling around the knee, and early recovery of ROM.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Takagi Hospital, Imadera 5-18-19, Oume, Tokyo 198-0021, Japan. ymikashima2007@yahoo.co.jp
authors: Yoshinori
authors: Y
authors: Mikashima
authors: Tadashi
authors: T
authors: Takagi
authors: Taisuke
authors: T
authors: Tomatsu
authors: Mariko
authors: M
authors: Horikoshi
authors: Katsunori
authors: K
authors: Ikari
authors: Shigeki
authors: S
authors: Momohara
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome