Sinew acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized sham-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sinew acupuncture is a new modality of acupuncture in which needles are inserted into acupoints, ashi points or spasm points of sinew and muscles along the meridian sinew pathway. A previous observational study revealed that sinew acupuncture has immediate analgesic effects on various soft tissue injuries, including knee injuries. However, no rigorous trials have been conducted. This study aims to examine whether sinew acupuncture can safely relieve pain and symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and improve patients' functional movement and quality of life.

Methods/design

A randomized, sham-controlled, patient- and assessor-blinded trial will be conducted to compare the efficacy of sinew acupuncture and sham acupuncture. Subjects will be assessed by the physician

SUBMITTER: Au KY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5913871 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature