No Effect of Acupuncture as Adjunctive Therapy for Patients with Total Knee Replacement: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether adding acupuncture to an exercise program improved pain management and walking distance in patients recovering from total knee replacement.
Results Summary
The study found no significant additional benefit of acupuncture on pain reduction or walking distance compared to exercise alone. Secondary outcomes, including disability and medication consumption, also showed no significant differences between groups.
Population
172 patients recovering from total knee replacement in an outpatient rehabilitation center in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Three weeks postoperatively, with follow-up at three months.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
acupuncture as adjunct to an exercise program | no change | main outcomes | patients following total knee replacement | non-significant | No additional benefit was found | #1 |
acupuncture as adjunct to an exercise program | no change | proportions of patients with a clinically important reduction of night pain | patients following total knee replacement | Relative Risk: 0.98; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.86-1.11 | Between-group differences were non-significant | #2 |
acupuncture as adjunct to an exercise program | no change | proportions of patients with a clinically important reduction of evening pain | patients following total knee replacement | Relative Risk: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.81-1.0 | Between-group differences were non-significant | #3 |
Previous benefit from acupuncture | no change | response to acupuncture | patients following total knee replacement | - | was not able to identify those likely to respond to acupuncture | #4 |
OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture is a low risk option in pain management following total knee replacement as an alternative to opioid analgesics. Therefore, the benefit of acupuncture as adjunct to an exercise program was investigated. Furthermore, the modifying effect of previous benefit from acupuncture was explored. DESIGN: Three weeks postoperatively, eligible patients were randomized to acupuncture and exercises or exercises alone. SETTING: An outpatient rehabilitation centre in the municipality of Copenhagen, Denmark. SUBJECTS: A total of 172 patients were included. METHODS: Main outcome was proportion of patients that reported a clinically important change in pain at night following each treatment. Secondary outcomes were change in disability measured after termination of the course of treatment and at three months follow-up. Also consumption of medication and walking distance after termination of the course of treatment were assessed. RESULTS: No additional benefit of acupuncture was found on any of the main outcomes. Between-group differences were non-significant in proportions of patients with a clinically important reduction of night pain (Relative Risk: 0.98; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.86-1.11) or evening pain (Relative Risk: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.81-1.0. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support the addition of acupuncture to routine rehabilitation. Previous benefit from acupuncture was not able to identify those likely to respond to acupuncture. Future studies to investigate whether subgroups of patients would benefit from acupuncture are needed.