Clinical observation on wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with Kinesio taping in the treatment of early and middle stage cold-dampness obstruction type knee osteoarthritis

HAN Shan; ZHOU Jing; MA Wukai; LIU Jia; ZHAN Yongjia; YANG Zhengyu; LI Zumei; CHEN Min

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-266X.2025.08.012

Abstract：Objective To observe the clinical effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with Kinesio taping in the treatment of early and middle stage cold-dampness obstruction type knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and to provide more effec-tive treatment options for KOA patients.Methods Totally 120 patients with early and middle stage cold-dampness ob-struction type KOA were selected and randomly divided into control group,wrist-ankle acupuncture group,Kinesio taping group and combined group,with 30 cases in each group.Patients in the control group received basic treatment and routine care.Patients in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group were treated with wrist-ankle acupuncture on the basis of treatment of the control group.Patients in the Kinesio taping group were treated with Kinesio taping on the basis of treatment of the con-trol group.Patients in the combined group were treated with wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with Kinesio taping on the basis of the treatment of the control group.Before intervention,1 and 2 weeks after intervention,the severity of the disease was evaluated by TCM syndrome score.The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the changes in TCM syndrome score,and the total effective rate was calculated.Before intervention,1 and 2 weeks after intervention,the structure and function of the knee joint were evaluated by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC).The degree of knee joint pain was evaluated by the visual analogue scale(VAS),and the pain relief time was recorded.The severity of KOA was evaluated by the Index of Severity of Osteoarthritis(ISOA).Venous blood was collect-ed from each group,and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)was detected by the Westergren method and C-reactive pro-tein(CRP)was detected by immunoturbidimetry.During the intervention period,adverse reactions of patients were close-ly monitored and recorded.Results There was no statistically significant difference in TCM syndrome score among the groups before intervention(P>0.05).Compared with that before intervention,the TCM syndrome score of each group de-creased after intervention,and the score at 2 weeks after intervention was lower than that at 1 week after intervention(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group at the same time point,the TCM syndrome score of the wrist-ankle acupunc-ture group,Kinesio taping group and combined group decreased,and the score of the combined group was lower than that of the wrist-ankle acupuncture group and Kinesio taping group at the same time point(all P<0.05).The clinical effective rate was higher in the combined group than in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group and Kinesio taping group,and was higher in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group and Kinesio taping group than in the control group(all P<0.05).There were no sta-tistically significant differences in WOMAC score,VAS score,ISOA score or inflammatory indicators ESR and CRP among the groups before intervention(all P>0.05).Compared with those before intervention,the WOMAC score,VAS score,ISOA score and ESR and CRP levels of each group decreased after intervention,and the score at 2 weeks after intervention was lower than that at 1 week after intervention(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group at the same time point,the WOMAC score,VAS score,ISOA score and ESR and CRP levels of the wrist-ankle acupuncture group,Kinesio taping group and combined group decreased,and the score of the combined group was lower than that of the wrist-ankle acupunc-ture group and Kinesio taping group at the same time point(all P<0.05).Joint pain relief duration was as follows:com-bined group<wrist-ankle acupuncture group,Kinesio taping group<control group(all P<0.05).No adverse reactions oc-curred in each group during the intervention period.Conclusion Wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with Kinesio taping can safely relieve pain and inflammation in patients with early and middle stage cold-dampness obstruction type KOA,im-prove joint function,and the therapeutic effect is superior to that of single therapy.