In the first decade of the 21st century, nearly 27 million Americans had suffered from symptomatic knee OA, with advanced OA accounting more than half of them [1]. The national prevalence rate of knee OA in the adult Portuguese was 12.4% (11.0% to 13.8%) [2]. In addition, a longitudinal study involving 17,128 Chinese residents aged 45 years and older showed that the overall prevalence of symptomatic knee OA was 8.1% [3]. In rural China, symptomatic knee OA was more common (16.57%), and this incidence increased significantly in people aged 70 years and older (29.25% for women and 24.71% for men) [4].
Osteoarthritis is a common condition that affects the joints, particularly the knees. For those seeking alternative treatments, Chinese medicine offers various remedies to help manage knee osteoarthritis.
In traditional Chinese patterns of disharmony, the various types of arthritis fall typically under the category of “painful obstruction syndrome.” Acute painful obstruction can be due to wind, cold, dampness, or heat, although it is usually a combination of wind, dampness, and cold. Injections of corticosteroid medications can reduce inflammation, decreasing pain, and swelling in joints. Then, the doctor places a needle into space within the joint and injects the medication. The number of injections you can receive is usually limited to three or four injections per year.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine and involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to promote healing. In the case of knee osteoarthritis, acupuncture can help reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the affected joint.
The aHR (95% CI) was 1.37 (1.12–2.35), and 1.46 (1.08–2.55) for patients received NSAID accumulation duration 60 to 180 days and more than 180 days. The accumulation duration glucosamine did not significantly affect the risk of TKA, with aHR (95% CI) of 0.90 (0.81–1.00) and 0.94 (0.84–1.04) for treatments of 60 to 180 days and more than 180 days, respectively. We analyzed the formulae of TCM practices used in patients with knee osteoarthritis, as showed in Table 4.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine is another popular treatment in Chinese medicine for knee osteoarthritis. A variety of herbs, such as turmeric, ginger, and licorice root, are used to create custom herbal formulas that can help reduce pain and improve mobility in the knees.
Tai Chi
The study selection process will be represented in Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram (Fig. 1). The control interventions included non-treatment, sham treatment, placebo treatment, and routine treatments (e.g., health education, weight management, strength training, physiotherapy, acetaminophen therapy, glucosamine treatment, and NSAID therapy). Not addressing these symptoms in a timely manner places patients at risk for long-term structural decline, says Harkey. Although the study doesn’t show that patients experiencing symptoms will develop early OA, it heightens athletic trainers’ awareness of the possibility of symptoms, which could be addressed with intervention.
Tai Chi is a form of gentle exercise that combines slow, flowing movements with deep breathing techniques. This ancient martial art has been shown to be effective in improving balance, strength, and flexibility in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
FAQs
In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM for KOA, we will conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis on the existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The multivariable Cox model measured the HRs (95% CI) of TCM treatment for total knee replacement in the knee osteoarthritis cohort as shown in Table 2. Compared with patients with knee osteoarthritis who did not receive TCM, a lower adjusted HR (aHR; 0.69 [0.64–0.77]), after adjusted demographic factors and comorbidities, was observed in the TCM users. Indeed, the aHR (95% CI) with TCM use of less than 30 days, 30 to 120 days, and more than 120 days was 0.84 (0.76–0.93), 0.76 (0.65–0.84), and 0.49 (0.42–0.56), respectively. The more acupuncture treatment times, the lower was the risk of knee joint replacement, and the aHR (95% CI) was 0.92 (0.84–0.98), 0.77 (0.68–0.85), and 0.69 (0.61–0.81) in acupuncture treatment of less than 6 times, 6 to 12 times, and more than 12 times, respectively, as showed in Table 3. The primary outcome of this study was the total knee replacement risk of the patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Patients with knee OA usually experience chronic pain and physical limitation, as well as psychiatric disorders [5], consequently affecting the patients’ quality of life in various levels [6]. The number of people living with knee OA is expected to increase because of the global aging population and obesity [7]; thus, the burden of knee OA on patients will increase without effective treatments for symptoms. Therefore, interventions intended to relieve the pain and enhance the mobility, functionality, and quality of life should be developed to improve the management of knee OA. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been accepted as a complementary therapy for knee OA, not only in Asian countries [8, 9] but also in the West [10, 11] which might result from its effects on pain, loss of mobility and function as well as depression [12]. Currently, the use of TCM, such as acupuncture and Tai Chi, has been included in the OARSI guidelines [13] and advocated by reviews [14] for non-surgical management of knee OA. We calculated the HRs for the total replacement risk, analyzed by different demographic factors and comorbidities (Table 2).
- What are the benefits of using Chinese medicine for knee osteoarthritis?
- Reduction in pain and inflammation
- Improved mobility and flexibility
- Enhanced overall well-being
- Are there any side effects associated with Chinese medicine treatments?
- Some individuals may experience minor bruising or soreness after acupuncture sessions
- Herbal remedies may interact with certain medications, so it is important to consult with a qualified practitioner
