[Light and heat of moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis：a multi-center randomized controlled trial]

Objective: To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of light and heat of moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: A total of 216 patients with KOA were randomized into a traditional moxibustion group (72 cases, 8 cases dropped off), a moxibustion light group (72 cases, 9 cases dropped off) and a moxibustion heat group (72 cases, 10 cases dropped off).The special light-heat separation moxibustion cup was applied, the patients in the traditional moxibustion group received the treatment of moxibustion, the patients in the moxibustion light group received the treatment of moxibustion light and the patients in the moxibustion heat group received the treatment of moxibustion heat. The acupoint selection of the three groups was Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35) and Zusanli (ST 36), the treatment was given 20 min each time, 3 times a week, 4 weeks were required totally, and the follow-up surveys were made 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. The scores of Western Ontario and McMaster University osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were observed before treatment, after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. The therapeutic effects were evaluated according to the criterion of patient global assessment (PGA) after 4 weeks of treatment and 8 weeks after treatment.

Results: Compared with before treatment, the pain scores, stiffness scores, physical function scores and total scores of WOMAC were reduced after 2, 4 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks after treatment in the three groups (P<0.05). The pain scores, stiffness scores, physical function scores and total scores of WOMAC were reduced 8 weeks after treatment in the traditional moxibustion group and the moxibustion heat group (P<0.05). The stiffness score, physical function score and total score of WOMAC were reduced 8 weeks after treatment in the moxibustion light group (P<0.05). The pain score, physical function score and total score of WOMAC in the traditional moxibustion group after 4 weeks of treatment were lower than the moxibustion light group (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, the VAS scores were reduced after 2, 4 weeks of treatment and 4 , 8 weeks after treatment in the three groups (P<0.05). The improvement rates in the traditional moxibustion group and the moxibustion heat group after 4 weeks of treatment and 8 weeks after treatment were superior to the moxibustion light group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The light and heat of moxibustion have therapeutic effect for KOA, and the therapeutic effect of moxibustion heat is superior to moxibustion light.