title: Comparative effectiveness of the deqi sensation and non-deqi by moxibustion stimulation: a multicenter prospective cohort study in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: Substantial evidence has supported that moxibustion stimulates a unique phenomenon of Deqi, heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation. This study consisted of a multicenter, prospective cohort study with two parallel arms (A: heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation group; B: nonheat-sensitive moxibustion sensation group). All forms of moxibustion were applied unilaterally on the right leg with a triangle shape of three acupuncture points simultaneously (bilateral Xi Yan (EX-LE5) and He Ding (EX-LE2)). After one month the primary outcome parameter GPCRND-KOA showed significant differences between groups: trial group 5.23 ± 2.65 (adjusted mean ± SE) 95% CI [4.44~6.01] versus control group 7.43 ± 2.80 [6.59~8.26], P = 0.0001. Significant differences were manifested in total M-JOA score during the follow-up period (P = 0.0006). Mean knee circumference indicated significant difference between the groups (P = 0.03; P = 0.007). Overall, this evidence suggested that the effectiveness of the Deqi sensation group might be more superior than the non-Deqi sensation one in the treatment of KOA. This study was aimed at providing scientific evidence on the Deqi sensation of moxibustion and at showing that heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation is essential to achieve the preferable treatment effects of KOA.
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital with Jiangxi University of TCM, Nanchang 330006, China.
authors.forename: Rixin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mingren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Tongsheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Meiqi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhenhai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dingyi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xie
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