The Impact of Electroacupuncture Combined with Extracorporeal Ultrasound on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Random Clinical Study

Abstract

Objective Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) represents a rich repository of empirically developed traditional medicines. Electroacupuncture(EA) therapy is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. It calls for more rigorous study into the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of TCM remedies to strengthen the evidence base. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with Extracorporeal Ultrasound (EU) in patients with Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods A cohort of 110 KOA patients, admitted to The Second People's Hospital of Yichang from February 2024 to August 2024, were randomly assigned to either a control group or an observation group, each consisting of 55 individuals. 10 patients were excluded due to tuberculosis, tumor and intolerance to acupuncture treatment or EU. The control group received standard care for KOA, while the observation group underwent EA and EU intervention for a period of 2 weeks. Parameters such as pain level, knee joint function, symptom score, therapeutic efficacy were assessed pre- and post-intervention to determine the efficacy of the interventions. Results Initially, there were no significant differences in pain level, knee joint function, symptom score, therapeutic efficacy between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Post-intervention, both groups showed improvements in these parameters, with the observation group demonstrating superior outcomes. Specifically, pain VAS scores and symptom scores in the observation group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05), but KOOS scores and clinical efficacy in the observation group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The combination of EA and EU can significantly alleviate the symptoms of joint pain in patients with KOA, improve knee joint function, enhance the quality of life, and has superior therapeutic effects compared to celecoxib and sodium hyaluronate.