Acupuncture in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a double-blind controlled pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In planning a randomized controlled trial of acupuncture, we conducted a pilot study using validated outcome measures to assess the feasibility of the protocol, and to obtain preliminary data on efficacy and tolerability of 3 different forms of acupuncture treatment as an adjunct for the treatment of chronic pain in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

The study employs a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA), traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) and sham acupuncture (Sham) in patients with RA. All patients received 20 sessions over a period of 10 weeks. Six acupuncture points were chosen. Primary outcome is the changes in the pain score. Secondary outcomes included the change

SUBMITTER: Tam LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2174514 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature