Li Lee Chai, Ahmad Mohd Azzuan, Hou Tan Chee, Ann Je Angeline Low, Lin Lee Zi, Ling Tay Yan, Yan Peng
Physiotherapy Program, Centre for Rehabilitation and Special Needs Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Grand Care Rehab Seremban (Physiotherapy & Acupuncture), Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 13;20(1):e0313761. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313761. eCollection 2025.
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent condition causing significant pain and functional impairment. Acupuncture has shown promise as an adjunctive therapy, but conventional manual selection of acupoints lacks standardization. The Acugraph system provides a computerized method for identifying acupoints, potentially enhancing treatment precision.
This study aims to compare the effects of computerized Acugraph-guided acupuncture versus manually selected acupuncture as adjuncts to physiotherapy in managing KOA.
A randomized, double-blind controlled trial will be conducted with 50 participants diagnosed with mild to moderate KOA. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1 Comp-AcuPhysio (n = 25), receiving Acugraph-guided acupuncture with physiotherapy, or Group 2 Man-AcuPhysio (n = 25), receiving manually selected acupuncture with physiotherapy. Both groups will undergo 12 weekly treatment sessions, each lasting 60 minutes. Outcome measures, including the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, active knee flexion range, Timed Up and Go test, Visual Analog Scale for pain, Short Form-36 health survey, and Personal Integrated Energetics score, will be assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention. An intention-to-treat analysis will be applied. Changes from baseline to 12 weeks will be analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance for both within-group and between-group comparisons.
This study will provide a definitive assessment of the effectiveness of computerized Acugraph-guided acupuncture compared to manually selected acupuncture as supplementary treatments alongside KOA physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.
This trial will offer insights into how incorporating technology-driven approaches, such as Acugraph, with physiotherapy can enhance the customization and effectiveness of KOA management, leading to improved clinical outcomes. These results could advocate for the integration of technological tools in acupuncture to boost treatment precision and efficacy for KOA.
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12624000646549p).
膝关节骨关节炎（KOA）是一种常见疾病，会导致严重疼痛和功能障碍。针灸已显示出作为辅助治疗手段的潜力，但传统的手动选穴缺乏标准化。Acugraph系统提供了一种计算机化的穴位识别方法，有可能提高治疗精度。
本研究旨在比较计算机化的Acugraph引导下的针灸与手动选穴针灸作为KOA物理治疗辅助手段的效果。
将对50名诊断为轻至中度KOA的参与者进行随机双盲对照试验。参与者将被随机分配到两组之一：第1组Comp-AcuPhysio（n = 25），接受Acugraph引导下的针灸并结合物理治疗；第2组Man-AcuPhysio（n = 25），接受手动选穴针灸并结合物理治疗。两组均将接受为期12周的每周一次治疗，每次持续60分钟。将在基线和干预后立即评估包括膝关节损伤和骨关节炎结局评分、主动膝关节屈曲范围、定时起立行走测试、疼痛视觉模拟量表、简短健康调查问卷36项以及个人综合能量评分在内的结局指标。将采用意向性分析。使用重复测量方差分析对组内和组间比较从基线到12周的变化进行分析。
本研究将对计算机化的Acugraph引导下的针灸与手动选穴针灸作为KOA物理治疗康复辅助治疗的有效性提供明确评估。
该试验将深入了解如何将Acugraph等技术驱动方法与物理治疗相结合，以提高KOA管理的定制性和有效性，从而改善临床结局。这些结果可能会倡导在针灸中整合技术工具，以提高KOA治疗的精度和疗效。
澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心（ACTRN12624000646549p）。
