Table 7.
Change in knee pain and function and psychological measures at follow-up. Values are means (standard deviations) unless stated otherwise
| End point | Advice and exercise | Advice, exercise, and true acupuncture | Difference (95% CI)* | P value | Advice, exercise, and non-penetrating acupuncture | Difference (95% CI)* | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee pain and function | |||||||
| Change in pain intensity†: | |||||||
| 2 weeks | 0.27 (2.2) | 1.31 (2.2) | 1.12 (0.5 to 1.7) | <0.0001 | 1.51 (2.1) | 1.24 (0.7 to 1.8) | <0.0001 |
| 6 weeks | 0.90 (2.5) | 1.81 (2.4) | 0.98 (0.3 to 1.6) | 0.004 | 2.18 (2.5) | 1.27 (0.6 to 1.9) | <0.0001 |
| 6 months | 0.95 (2.6) | 1.28 (2.4) | 0.32 (−0.4 to 1.0) | 0.4 | 1.95 (2.6) | 1.01 (0.3 to 1.7) | 0.006 |
| 12 months | 1.21 (2.9) | 1.60 (2.6) | 0.34 (−0.4 to 1.1) | 0.4 | 2.02 (2.6) | 0.84 (0.1 to 1.6) | 0.03 |
| Change in pain unpleasantness†: | |||||||
| 6 weeks | 1.08 (2.5) | 1.91 (2.4) | 0.90 (0.2 to 1.6) | 0.007 | 2.23 (2.5) | 1.09 (0.4 to 1.8) | 0.002 |
| 6 months | 0.94 (2.6) | 1.22 (2.5) | 0.30 (−0.4 to 1.0) | 0.4 | 2.07 (2.8) | 1.12 (0.4 to 1.9) | 0.003 |
| 12 months | 1.20 (3.0) | 1.66 (2.8) | 0.43 (−0.4 to 1.2) | 0.3 | 2.15 (2.8) | 0.94 (0.2 to 1.7) | 0.02 |
| Change in severity of main problem†: | |||||||
| 6 weeks | 1.39 (2.6) | 1.88 (2.4) | 0.58 (−0.1 to 1.3) | 0.09 | 2.13 (2.4) | 0.72 (0.1 to 1.4) | 0.04 |
| 6 months | 1.13 (2.7) | 1.23 (2.5) | 0.12 (−0.6 to 0.8) | 0.7 | 1.76 (2.8) | 0.66 (−0.1 to 1.4) | 0.08 |
| 12 months | 1.36 (2.6) | 1.60 (2.7) | 0.15 (−0.6 to 0.9) | 0.7 | 1.89 (2.7) | 0.52 (−0.2 to 1.3) | 0.2 |
| Psychological measures | |||||||
| Change in pain on arthritis self efficacy scale†: | |||||||
| 6 weeks | 0.71 (9.5) | −1.46 (9.3) | −2.19 (−4.8 to 0.4) | 0.1 | −2.54 (10.4) | −2.99 (−5.7 to -0.3) | 0.03 |
| 6 months | 1.64 (11.1) | −0.62 (9.8) | −2.36 (−5.3 to 0.5) | 0.1 | −1.43 (11.3) | −2.77 (−5.9 to 0.3) | 0.08 |
| 12 months | 0.91 (12.1) | 0.33 (12.0) | −0.64 (−4.2 to 2.9) | 0.7 | 0.08 (10.3) | −0.71 (−3.9 to 2.5) | 0.7 |
| Change in other symptoms on arthritis self efficacy scale†: | |||||||
| 6 weeks | −0.32 (10.0) | −1.83 (10.1) | −1.42 (−4.2 to 1.3) | 0.3 | −3.38 (10.4) | −2.74 (−5.5 to 0.02) | 0.05 |
| 6 months | 0.38 (11.2) | −0.68 (11.2) | −1.01 (−4.1 to 2.1) | 0.5 | −1.88 (12.0) | −2.09 (−5.3 to 1.1) | 0.2 |
| 12 months | 0.55 (11.5) | −0.12 (13.9) | −0.47 (−4.2 to 3.3) | 0.8 | −1.93 (11.5) | −2.48 (−5.8 to 0.8) | 0.1 |
*Mean difference (advice and exercise plus acupuncture group minus advice and exercise group) adjusted for recruitment age, sex, and duration of pain.
†Change in score from baseline.