Effectiveness and feasibility of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: a pilot randomized controlled trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 1666-1675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu-Lu Lin ◽  
Yong-Ting Li ◽  
Jian-Feng Tu ◽  
Jing-Wen Yang ◽  
Ning Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Womac Pain ◽  
Chinese Acupuncture ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Acupuncture Intervention ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Function ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for pain relief and function improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis and to determine the feasibility of an eight-week acupuncture intervention. Design: Pilot randomized controlled trial. Setting: Three teaching hospitals in China. Subjects: Patients with knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren grade II or III). Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to an eight-week (three sessions per week) intervention of either traditional Chinese acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Main measures: The primary outcome was response rate—the proportion of patients achieving score ⩾36% decrease in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and function at week 8 compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes included pain, function and quality of life. Results: Of 42 patients randomized, 36 (85.7%) completed the study. There was no significant difference in response rate between the traditional Chinese acupuncture and control groups: 61.9% (13 of 21) versus 42.9% (9 of 21) achieved score ⩾36% decrease in WOMAC pain and function at week 8 ( P = 0.217). The sum of WOMAC pain and function scores at week 8 was 11.6 (9.1) in the traditional Chinese acupuncture group compared with 16.3 (10.9) in the control group ( P = 0.183). There was no significant difference between groups. Three adverse events were recorded and were classified as mild. Conclusion: It showed that three sessions per week acupuncture intervention of knee osteoarthritis was feasible and safe. No difference was observed between groups due to small sample size. Larger (sample size ⩾ 296) randomized controlled trials of this intervention appear justified.

scholarly journals Effect of Electroacupuncture versus Sham Electroacupuncture in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Qi Wang ◽  
Hui Lv ◽  
Zhao-Tian Sun ◽  
Jian-Feng Tu ◽  
Yong-Wei Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective. To explore the feasibility of evaluating the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture versus sham electroacupuncture for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Method. A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at a teaching hospital in Beijing. A total of 30 patients with KOA (Kellgren grade II or III) were randomly allocated to an eight-week treatment of either electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture. Patients and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome was the proportion of responders achieving at least 1.14 seconds decrease in the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) at week eight compared with baseline. The secondary outcomes included the knee range of motion, the knee extensor and flexor muscle strength, Lequesne index, 9-step stair-climb test (9-SCT), and TUG. Results. Of 30 patients allocated to two groups, 27 (90%) completed the study. The proportion of responders was 53.3% (8 of 15) for electroacupuncture group and 26.7% (4 of 15) for sham electroacupuncture group by the intention-to-treat analysis (P=0.264). There was no statistically significant difference in TUG between the two groups at eight weeks (P=0.856). The compliance rate measured according to patients who conformed to the protocol and had received treatments ≥20 times was 93.3% (28 of 30). The dropout rate was 20% (3 of 15). Adverse effects were not reported in the study. Conclusion. Our research demonstrated that further evaluation of the effectiveness of electroacupuncture versus sham electroacupuncture was feasible and safe for patients with KOA. Whether or not the electroacupuncture can improve the physical functions of knee joint, expand the knee range of motion, and increase the extensor and flexor muscle strength more significantly than sham electroacupuncture, future studies can be designed with larger sample size, randomization design and less biases. This trial is registered with NCT03366363.

scholarly journals Online Balint Group Work Versus Pharmacotherapy in Treatment of Coronavirus Anxiety in Healthcare Workers in Iran: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
najmeh shahini ◽  
shakiba gholamzad ◽  
zanireh salimi ◽  
Mansoureh Kiani Dehkordi ◽  
Saeedeh Hajebi Khaniki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group Work ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Resilience Scale ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Balint Group ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background: An increase in symptoms of anxiety is already being reported in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.Objectives: We aimed to compare the effectiveness of Balint group work with pharmacotherapy in coronavirus related anxiety among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Iran.Methods: In This pilot clinical trial, after passing a phone screening procedure by a psychiatrist, subjects were quasi-randomly assigned to Balint (8 sixty-minute online sessions) or pharmacotherapy (Sertraline) groups. Both groups were asked to fill two questionnaires, including the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), at the beginning and the end of the 4-week intervention period.Results: A total of 45 HCWs enrolled in this study. The results showed a significant difference between the post-test and pre-test scores of both groups in the total scores of anxiety and its subcomponents (p≤0.001). There was no significant difference between the effectiveness of the two interventions on anxiety (p=0.52). Both interventions had a significant effect on the subjects' resilience and its subscales (p≤0.05) except for positive acceptance change. The spiritual influences domain had a significantly higher increase in the pharmacotherapy group (P=0.031).Conclusions: We showed Balint group work maybe can better to pharmacotherapy with Sertraline in management of COVID-19 related anxiety and boosting resilience in healthcare workers.

scholarly journals Randomized controlled trial of aquatic exercise for treatment of knee osteoarthritis in elderly people

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-167
Author(s):  
Sirous Azizi ◽  
Afsaneh Dadarkhah ◽  
Zahra Rezasoltani ◽  
Seyed Ahmad Raeissadat ◽  
Reza Kazempoor Mofrad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Aquatic Exercise ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group Control

Aim The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of aquatic exercise on pain, gait, and balance among elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods We performed a randomized controlled trial at a university hospital. Overall, 32 men with knee osteoarthritis, aged ≥ 60 years, were included. Pain, balance, and gait were evaluated before and 2 months after interventions. The group control used acetaminophen and followed lifestyle recommendations. The intervention group performed the aquatic exercise three sessions per week for 8 weeks. Results At the end of the study, mean pain scores were significantly different between the groups (p = 0.010). Within-group analyses showed that group intervention experienced significant pain relief (p = 0.019), whereas group control did not show the significant change (p = 0.493). There was significant improvement in favor of aquatic exercise with regard to static (p = 0.001) and dynamic (p = 0.001) balance, step length (p = 0.038), stride length (p < 0.001), and cadence (p < 0.001). However, we did not find a significant difference in step time and width between the two groups. Conclusions Aquatic exercise would be beneficial in decreasing subjective pain of osteoarthritis. There are some recognizable improvements in patients’ gait and balance as well.

Electroacupuncture versus manual acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled pilot trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 291-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian-Qi Wang ◽  
Yong-Ting Li ◽  
Li-Qiong Wang ◽  
Guang-Xia Shi ◽  
Jian-Feng Tu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Acupuncture Points ◽  
Womac Pain ◽  
Manual Acupuncture ◽  
Current Output ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
And Function

Objective: We aimed to explore the feasibility of evaluating the comparative effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) relative to manual acupuncture (MA) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in Beijing from September 2017 to January 2018. A total of 60 participants with KOA were randomly allocated to either EA ( n = 30) or MA ( n = 30) groups. Participants in the EA group were treated with EA at six to seven local traditional acupuncture points or ah shi points, and two to three distal points. Participants in the MA group had the same schedule as the EA group except that the electrical apparatus featured a working power indicator without actual current output, constituting a sham EA procedure, in order to blind participants. Both groups received 24 sessions over 8 weeks. The primary outcome was response rate, defined as a change of ⩾50% from baseline in the total scores of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) after 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain, stiffness, function, quality of life, and acupuncture-related adverse events (AEs) at 4 and 8 weeks. Results: Of 60 participants randomized, 53 (88%) completed the study. Response rates were 43% for the EA group and 30% for the MA group by the intention-to-treat analysis. Although significant differences were observed in WOMAC pain, stiffness, and function scores within both groups, between-group differences at 8 weeks did not reach statistical significance (odds ratio = 1.75 (95% confidence interval = 0.593–5.162)). Rates of AEs were low and similarly distributed between groups. Conclusion: Both EA and MA interventions in KOA were feasible and appeared safe. Whether or not EA may have a stronger impact on pain and function requires further evaluation through larger, adequately powered, randomized controlled trials. Trial registration number: NCT03274713.

scholarly journals Effects of weight loss on foot structure and function in obese adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinsup Song ◽  
Reagan Kane ◽  
Dana N. Tango ◽  
Stephanie S. Vander Veur ◽  
James Furmato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Obese Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Foot Structure ◽  
And Function ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

scholarly journals A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Craving and Cessation in Marijuana Use Disorder Patients: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammadreza davoudi ◽  
Zahra allame ◽  
Aliakbar Foroughi ◽  
Amir Abbas taheri
Keyword(s):  
Dialectical Behavior Therapy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Marijuana Use ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pilot Rct ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Purpose: This study has investigated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of DBT for Marijuana cessation and craving reduction as a pilot RCT.Methods: Sixty-one participants were randomly assigned to one of the DBT or psycho-education as active control-group with two-month follow-up. Patients completed measures at pre-interventions, post-interventions, and a two-month follow-up.Results: feasibility in DBT is significantly higher than the control group. In the DBT group 29/30 (96% retention) and in control group 24/31 (77% retention) completed all sessions (χ2= 4.95, p = 0.02). Moreover, 29/30 (96%) in the DBT group and 20/31 (64.5%) in the control group completed the two-month follow-up (χ2= 9.97, p = 0.002). For the acceptability of the intervention, results showed 16.57 (agree) in DBT and 9.6 (neither agree nor disagree) in control groups for p < 0.05. For appropriateness, results showed 17.03 (completely agree) in DBT and 10.7 (neither agree nor disagree) in control-groups for p < 0.05. for craving, results confirmed that there is no significant difference between groups (F = 3.52, p > 0.05); however, in “emotionality,” subscale DBT showed a significant reduction rather than the control group (F = 19.94, p < 0.05). For cessation rates, DBT was compared with the control group at the posttest (46% vs. 16%) and follow-up (40% vs. 9.5%), and results proved higher effectiveness in the DBT group for p < 0.05. Furthermore, among those who have lapsed, participation in the DBT group had fewer days than consume for p <0.05.Conclusions: DBT shows feasibility, acceptability, and promise in improving cessation rate in Marijuana use disorder and warrants further investigations.

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