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Knee Pain
Sensory stimulation (acupuncture) for the treatment of
idiopathic anterior knee pain.
Naslund J, Naslund UB, Odenbring S, Lundeberg T.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. j.naslund@mailbox.calypso.net
A
randomized controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effect of acupuncture
treatment in idiopathic anterior knee pain, a pain syndrome without known
aetiology. Fifty-eight patients, clinically and radiologically examined, were randomly assigned to
either deep or minimal superficial acupuncture treatment. The patients were
treated twice weekly for a total of 15 treatments.
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The main
outcome measurements were one leg vertical jump, functional score, daily VAS
recording and skin temperature. Fifty-seven patients completed the study. Pain
measurements on VAS decreased significantly within both groups; in the deep
acupuncture group from 25 before treatments to 10 afterwards, and in the
superficial (placebo) acupuncture group from 30 to 10. There was no significant
difference between the groups. The improvement on the VAS recordings remained
significant even after 3 and 6 months. Even though the pain decreased after
sensory stimulation, neither the ability to jump on one leg, the
functional score nor the skin temperature changed. This study shows that
patients with idiopathic anterior knee pain benefit from both electroacupuncture treatment and subcutaneous needling. The pain-relieving
effect remains for at least 6 months. Central pain inhibition, caused by either
afferent stimulation or by non-specific therapeutic (placebo) effects, is a
plausible explanation behind the treatment effects.
PMID:
12392239 [PubMed - in process]
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