Evaluation of Electrical Acupuncture and Low Reactive Level Laser Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee Joint with JOA Score

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We investigated the effects of combined therapy with low frequency electro-acupuncture stimulation and low reactive level laser (LLL) in patients suffering from osteoarthritis of knee joints.Methods: Eighty-seven knee joints of sixty-three patients were divided into four grades by upright X-ray findings: Grade 1 (n=38): osteosclerosis or osteopathic degeneration, Grade 2 (n=41): narrowing of joint space less than 3mm, Grade 3 (n=5): closure of joint space or subluxation, Grade 4 (n=3): defect of articular surface less than 5mm.These patients were treated with electro-acupuncture therapy for ten minutes and LLL therapy at a tender point of the knee for two or three minutes. After the therapy we evaluated the effects by assessing numerical criteria of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA).Results: For patients in Grade 1 & 2 the treatments with electro-acupuncture stimulation and LLL alleviated the patient's pain. The JOA score improved significantly in Grade 1 from 67.9± 2.6 to 86.7±1.7 and in Grade 2 from 67.9±3.0 to 86.3±1.5 (p<0.01). But the effect of the treatment in Grade 3 and Grade 4 were not statistically significant.Conclusion: The therapy combined with electro-acupuncture and LLL was effective in the pain treatment and management of early and moderate stage of osteoarthritis of the knee.
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