Observations on the Efficacy of Warm Needling Moxibustion plus Tricolor Medicinal Paste in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of warm needling moxibustion plus tricolor medicinal paste in treating knee osteoarthritis. Method Ninety-one patients meeting the diagnostic criteria were randomly allocated to a treatment group(45 cases) and a control group(46 cases). The treatment group was given warm needling moxibustion plus tricolor medicinal paste and the control group, warm needling moxibustion alone. The clinical therapeutic effect and the WOMAC score were observed in the two groups. An improvement in the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis was assessed in the patients after treatment. Result In both groups, there were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the pain and daily activity scores and the WOMAC total score(P0.05) but not in the morning stiffness score(P0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the daily activity score and the WOMAC total score(P0.05) but not in the pain and morning stiffness scores(P0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion The study shows that warm needling moxibustion plus external application of tricolor medicinal paste has a marked improving effect on the pain, swelling and physiological functions in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Improving lower limb function further in daily activities can produce a satisfactory and stable therapeutic effect.