title: Electroacupuncture with different current intensities to treat knee osteoarthritis: a single-blinded controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the efficacy of Electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation with high-intensity compared with low-intensity on knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants with KOA were randomized to either high-intensity EA group or low-intensity EA group. EA was applied unilaterally on the affected leg with the local points GB34, ST34, EX-LE4, EX-LE5, ST36, and SP9. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were measured before and after participation. Plasma TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and apelin levels were also assessed by enzyme immunoassay (ELA) before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 80 participants who consented to study participation, 77 completed the program. The patients showed a significant improvement in their pain, stiffness, and physical function on the VAS and WOMAC, accompanying with a significantly reduction in plasma levels of apelin and TNFα. Furthermore, high-intensity group exhibited statistically significant improvements in stiffness and physical function symptoms compared with low-intensity group. Plasma level of IL-6 was significantly decreased only after high-intensity EA treatment. Furthermore, apelin level was significantly inhibited in high-intensity EA group than in low-intensity EA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both high- and low-intensity EA treatments alleviate the clinical symptoms of KOA patients. High-intensity EA is more effective than low-intensity EA. Changes in plasma levels of TNFα, apelin and IL-6 may be involved in the therapeutic effect of EA on KOA.
authors.affiliation: College of Acumox and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghai 201203, China; Department of Acupuncture, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Ziyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Department of Massage, Third Affiliated hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Henan, China.
authors.forename: Xianhui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Integrative Medicine Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghai 201203, China; Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at ShanghaiShanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Acumox and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Shimin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Acumox and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Jinsen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Huashun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Integrative Medicine Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghai 201203, China; Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at ShanghaiShanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Electroacupuncture; current intensity; knee osteoarthritis; pain