Effectiveness of Acupuncture as an Adjunct to Rehabilitation After Knee Arthroplasty

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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No randomized trials have tested the effectiveness of acupuncture as a supplement to rehabilitation after total knee replacement. Studies from related fields, however, have shown reduction of symptoms as a result of acupuncture treatment in patients with knee pain caused by severe osteoarthritis in the knee. Furthermore, studies have reported that the need of pain medication was lower when acupuncture treatment was performed immediately after knee surgery. The aim of this study is to test whether acupuncture can reduce pain and improve disability as a supplement to rehabilitation after total knee replacement. One hundred and seventy patients will be allocated by drawing lots to either a treatment group receiving exercise therapy and acupuncture or a group receiving exercise therapy alone. Treatment will start 3 weeks after surgery at the latest. Outcome of treatments will be measured at completion of treatment and at 3 months follow-up by pain- and disability questionnaires as well as the recording of walking capacity.

Official Title
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Effectiveness of Acupuncture as an Adjunct to Rehabilitation After Knee Arthroplasty. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Conditions
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Total Knee Replacement

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Acupuncture
* Procedure: exercises


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Hemi- or total knee arthroplasty. 18 - 70 years of age. Exclusion Criteria: Concurrent diseases that compromises treatment, i.e.hip disease, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine). Bleeding disorders. Heart disease or use of pacemaker. Lack of patient cooperation, i.e. psychological disorders, alcoholism, problems with language). Infection. Exclusion criteria during intervention: Infection. Cicatrice-burst.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Acupuncture<br>Acupuncture in combination with exercise therapy | Procedure: Acupuncture<br>* Westerns style acupuncture. Twice a week for 12 weeks<br>|
| Active Comparator: exercises<br>Coordination, mobilizing, endurance, strength | Procedure: exercises<br>* Coordination, mobilizing, endurance, strength<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pain |  | 3 months after treatment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| disability |  | 3 months after treatment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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exercise therapy, Knee arthroplasty, Acupuncture Analgesia, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee, rehabilitation