Therapeutic efficacy observation on moxibustion with moxa of different storage years for moderate-to-severe primary knee osteoarthritis

Objective:By observing the differences in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)and visual analog scale(VAS)scores in moxibustion treatment for moderate-to-severe primary knee osteoarthritis(KOA)with moxa of different storage years(3-year moxa and 1-year moxa from Qichun,Huanggang City,Hubei Province,China)through a randomized clinical trial,to objectively evaluate the differences in therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion with moxa of different storage years.Methods:A total of 63 patients with moderate-to-severe KOA who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into moxibustion group 1 and moxibustion group 2 by central randomization method,with 32 cases in moxibustion group 1 and 31 cases in moxibustion group 2.Moxibustion group 1 was treated with moxa stored for 3 years,and moxibustion group 2 was treated with moxa stored for 1 year.Dubi(ST 35),Neixiyan(EX-LE 4)and Heding(EX-LE 2)were selected in both groups,and the treatment lasted 20 min per time,3 times a week.The immediate efficacy was compared after 6 times of treatment,and long-term efficacy was compared at follow-up 4 weeks after the end of treatment.Results:During the treatment,there were 2 dropouts in moxibustion group 1,and 1 dropout in moxibustion group 2.The total effective rate in the two groups was 83.3%and 60.0%,respectively.Followed up at 4 weeks after the end of treatment,the total effective rate in the two groups was 80.0%and 66.7%,respectively.There were no statistical differences between the two groups(both P>0.05).After treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment,the WOMAC and VAS scores in both groups decreased significantly compared with those before treatment(all P<0.01);the scores of stiffness item of WOMAC in moxibustion group 1 were lower than those in moxibustion group 2(both P<0.05);there were no statistical differences in the scores of pain item and dysfunction item of WOMAC,and VAS scores between the two groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion:Moxibustion with moxa of different storage years(stored for 3 years and 1 year)both can improve the pain,stiffness and motor function in patients with moderate-to-severe KOA.While moxa stored for 3 years has a better therapeutic efficacy in improving stiffness of the knee joint than that stored for 1 year.