Electro-Acupuncture Treatment in Patients With Osteoarthritis Of The Knee (EATOAK)

NCT ID: NCT02299713

Last Updated: 2020-04-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

160 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-01-31

Study Completion Date

2017-11-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) on pain control, perception of pain, plasma cortisol and beta-endorphins levels, patient-perceived quality of life and use of pain medications, in people with chronic knee pain.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Previous randomised trials and meta-analyses have shown certain efficacy of acupuncture in some chronic painful conditions, in spite of methodological weaknesses. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the endogenous opioid (EO) system are the mechanisms appear to explain how acupuncture works in part. These systems have been shown to be important mediators of stress, pain and other stimuli. The Osteoarthritis Research International suggest that osteoarthritis (OA) treatment should be multidisciplinary and recommended acupuncture as one of 12 possible non-pharmacological modalities for treating OA.

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, parallel design. 128 out-patients over 50 years with OA of the knee will be recruited from Mallorca, Spain. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: placebo/sham acupuncture, non insertion technique, and EA. Acupuncture treatments will be used the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) style. The patients will be evaluated after a period of one month (2 sessions weekly), three months (1session monthly), six months (1 session every 45 days) and again one year later (1 session every 2 months), at the end of the study.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Osteoarthritis, Knee

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

placebo/sham acupuncture

There are different types of controls used in acupuncture trials. We used the control described as sham and by some as minimal acupuncture. This group had the same schedule as the electro-acupuncture group. Sham acupuncture was administered, with the same duration and frequency and by the same specialist who performed the non-sham acupuncture. Retractable needles were placed into small adhesive cylinders, so that the needles were supported but did not perforate the skin. The acupuncturist placed the needles at the same points as the non-sham group and used the same pairs of electrodes to simulate the electrical connection.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Electroacupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

Electro acupuncture is a relatively new method of treatment in Chinese Medicine. Just as in a regular acupuncture treatment, needles are inserted into acupuncture points but small crocodile clips are then attached to the ends of needles to connect them to an electro-acupuncture device. In traditional acupuncture the inserted needles are manually vibrated to induce a response whilst in electro-acupuncture the bi-phasic current results in a constant (controlled) vibration of the needles and a direct electrical stimulation. The device allows the practitioner to adjust the frequency and intensity of the electric stimulation in a consistent manner which is not operator dependant.

Electroacupuncture

The electro-acupuncture device was a biphasic pulse generator. It was used with maximum tolerable intensity of current and a frequency of 3 Hz. The points were selected according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine meridian theory to treat knee pain. The points selected were local points St 34, St 35, St 36,Liv 8, Sp 10. One distal point St 44.A total of six needles were inserted into each leg by the acupuncturist (the out come measures were not specifically targeted to whether the patient had one or both knees involved). All patients belonging to this group experienced a De Qi sensation, which is a tingling and numbness sensation upon needling of specific points.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Electroacupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

Electro acupuncture is a relatively new method of treatment in Chinese Medicine. Just as in a regular acupuncture treatment, needles are inserted into acupuncture points but small crocodile clips are then attached to the ends of needles to connect them to an electro-acupuncture device. In traditional acupuncture the inserted needles are manually vibrated to induce a response whilst in electro-acupuncture the bi-phasic current results in a constant (controlled) vibration of the needles and a direct electrical stimulation. The device allows the practitioner to adjust the frequency and intensity of the electric stimulation in a consistent manner which is not operator dependant.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Electroacupuncture

Electro acupuncture is a relatively new method of treatment in Chinese Medicine. Just as in a regular acupuncture treatment, needles are inserted into acupuncture points but small crocodile clips are then attached to the ends of needles to connect them to an electro-acupuncture device. In traditional acupuncture the inserted needles are manually vibrated to induce a response whilst in electro-acupuncture the bi-phasic current results in a constant (controlled) vibration of the needles and a direct electrical stimulation. The device allows the practitioner to adjust the frequency and intensity of the electric stimulation in a consistent manner which is not operator dependant.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Patients of either sex with primary osteoarthritis of one or both knees fulfilling diagnostic criteria for osteoarthritis knee laid down by American College of Rheumatology.
* Patients also had to have a Kellgren-Lawrence (radiologic criterion) score of at least 2 and chronic pain in the knee joint for more than 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

* The patients with secondary osteoarthritis of knees
* Associated systemic arthropathies, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis and gout
* Patients on steroids
* Disease modifying drugs, e.g. methotrexate and azathioprine
* Patients with recent trauma in the area of acupuncture
* History of intra articular injection of steroid within last two months
* Patients missing two or more sessions of electro-acupuncture consecutively were excluded from the study
Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Hospital Son Llatzer

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Javier Mata

Chief of Section of Anesthesiology and Reanimation Department

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Javier Mata, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Anaesthesia Department, Son Llàtzer University Hospital. Palma de Mallorca. Spain

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Son Llatzer University Hospital

Palma, Balear Islands, Spain

Site Status

Son LLàtzer Hospital

Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Spain

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Ahsin S, Saleem S, Bhatti AM, Iles RK, Aslam M. Clinical and endocrinological changes after electro-acupuncture treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Pain. 2009 Dec 15;147(1-3):60-6. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2009.08.004. Epub 2009 Sep 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19766392 (View on PubMed)

Vas J, Mendez C, Perea-Milla E, Vega E, Panadero MD, Leon JM, Borge MA, Gaspar O, Sanchez-Rodriguez F, Aguilar I, Jurado R. Acupuncture as a complementary therapy to the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2004 Nov 20;329(7476):1216. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38238.601447.3A. Epub 2004 Oct 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15494348 (View on PubMed)

Sangdee C, Teekachunhatean S, Sananpanich K, Sugandhavesa N, Chiewchantanakit S, Pojchamarnwiputh S, Jayasvasti S. Electroacupuncture versus diclofenac in symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2002 Mar 21;2:3. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-2-3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11914160 (View on PubMed)

Witt C, Brinkhaus B, Jena S, Linde K, Streng A, Wagenpfeil S, Hummelsberger J, Walther HU, Melchart D, Willich SN. Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomised trial. Lancet. 2005 Jul 9-15;366(9480):136-43. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66871-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16005336 (View on PubMed)

Berman BM, Lao L, Langenberg P, Lee WL, Gilpin AM, Hochberg MC. Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Dec 21;141(12):901-10. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-141-12-200412210-00006.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15611487 (View on PubMed)

Selfe TK, Taylor AG. Acupuncture and osteoarthritis of the knee: a review of randomized, controlled trials. Fam Community Health. 2008 Jul-Sep;31(3):247-54. doi: 10.1097/01.FCH.0000324482.78577.0f.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18552606 (View on PubMed)

Kwon YD, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Acupuncture for peripheral joint osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006 Nov;45(11):1331-7. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kel207. Epub 2006 Aug 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16936326 (View on PubMed)

White A, Foster NE, Cummings M, Barlas P. Acupuncture treatment for chronic knee pain: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2007 Mar;46(3):384-90. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kel413. Epub 2007 Jan 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17215263 (View on PubMed)

Manheimer E, Cheng K, Linde K, Lao L, Yoo J, Wieland S, van der Windt DA, Berman BM, Bouter LM. Acupuncture for peripheral joint osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;2010(1):CD001977. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001977.pub2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20091527 (View on PubMed)

Mata J, Cabrera S, Sanchis P, Valenti P, Hernandez P, Fortuny R, Lirola S, Aguilar JL. Electro-acupuncture for treatment of knee pain from osteoarthritis and the possible endocrinology changes: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2015 Jun 3;16:248. doi: 10.1186/s13063-015-0766-2.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 26037626 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

ACU-001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Auriculotherapy for Osteoarthritis Knee
NCT02352636 COMPLETED PHASE3
Acupuncture in Osteoarthritis of the Knee
NCT00325663 COMPLETED PHASE1/PHASE2