Acupuncture & knee arthritis 2.

In a separate Spanish study of the potential benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, 97 patients were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture plus diclofenac, or placebo acupuncture plus diclofenac. The true acupuncture consisted of needling (followed by electroacupuncture at the local points) at Yanglingquan GB-34, Yinlingquan SP-9, Xiyan (MN-LE-16), Zusanli ST-36, Taixi KID-3, Sanyinjiao SP-6, Hegu L.I.-4 and Fenglong ST-40 (all with deqi). The placebo acupuncture was administered using retractable needles (with adhesive cylinders) at the same points, and sham electroacupuncture was also given. Both groups received twelve weekly treatments. At the end of the study, the true acupuncture group had a greater reduction in pain and stiffness, improved physical functioning, and an improved quality of life. (BMJ 2004;329:1216).