BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been an alternative approach for pain management, but trial evidence is conflicting. METHODS: 86 KOA patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio from June 14, 2017 to January 20, 2019, to receive either superficial needling acupuncture treatment or sham acupuncture for 10 sessions over a 4-week treatment period, followed by a 6-week follow-up period. The primary outcome was the change of pain intensity at week 4 measured using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36). RESULTS: At the end of the 4-week treatment period, mean changes in the VAS were -30.8 (95% CI -38.2 to -23.0; p < 0.001) in the acupuncture group and -26.7 (95% CI -34.4 to -18.8; p < 0.001) in the sham group. The difference between acupuncture and the sham group was -4.1 (95% CI -14.4 to 6.2; p = 0.431). At week 10, the difference between groups was -2.2 (95% CI -13.1 to 8.8; p = 0.699). There was no statistically significant difference in WOMAC subscores (pain, stiffness, and physical function) and SF-36 related outcomes across groups from week 2 to week 10. The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 4.4% in the acupuncture group and 0.8% in the sham acupuncture group. All adverse events were classified as mild. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture for 4 weeks is not superior to non-penetrating sham acupuncture. The current study cannot confirm that superficial acupuncture is efficacy for KOA.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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