Fire acupuncture for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial

This study is a prospective randomized controlled pilot trial in which 120 patients with mild to moderate KOA will be randomly allocated in equal proportions to a fire acupuncture group or a general acupuncture group. They will receive acupuncture for six sessions over 2  weeks. The primary end point is success rate, which will be calculated based on the change from baseline of the pain and function scores in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index at 4 weeks. Secondary end points include the proportion of patients achieving clinical i mprovement based on: (1) the OMERACT-OARSI responder criteria, (2) levels of matrix metalloproteinase 3, interleukin 1β, and tumor necrosis factor α in blood, and (3) a subjective efficacy evaluation from patients.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry,ChiCTR1800019162. Registered on 29 October 2018.
Source: Trials - Category: Research Source Type: clinical trials