Efficacy of Myofascial Trigger Point Thread-embedding Combined with Zhengqing Fengtongning Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis
LIU Fang
LI Siwen
MIAO Jianing
GUO Yuehui
WU Yan
WANG Xiaoli
LIU Xia
YAN Jianghua
Abstract：Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of myofascial trigger point thread-embedding combined with Zhengqing Fengtongning injection in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods A total of 120 patients with KOA admitted to China RongTong Medical Healthcare Group Co.,Ltd.Handan 285 Hospital from January 2022 to January 2025 were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into a thread-embedding group and a combination group,with 60 cases in each group.The thread-embedding group was treated with myofascial trigger point thread-embedding therapy,while the combination group received additional intramuscular injection of Zhengqing Fengtongning on the basis of the thread-embedding treatment.The two groups were compared in terms of TCM syndrome scores,knee joint function[Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)score,American Knee Society Score(AKS)],pain level[visual analogue scale(VAS)scores at rest and after 30 minutes of walking],inflammatory factor levels[interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)],imaging indicators(knee cartilage thickness),clinical efficacy,adverse reactions,and recurrence rate.Results After treatment,scores for joint pain,limited flexion and extension,fixed pain,fatigue and weakness,and transient morning stiffness,as well as total scores and levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α,decreased in both groups(P<0.05),and the combination group was lower than the thread-embedding group(P<0.05).After treatment and 3 months post-treatment,WOMAC scores and VAS scores at rest and after 30 minutes of walking decreased in both groups(P<0.05),and the combination group was lower than the thread-embedding group(P<0.05).After treatment and 3 months post-treatment,AKS increased in both groups(P<0.05),and the combination group was higher than the thread-embedding group(P<0.05).The total effective rate in the combination group(96.67%)was higher than that in the thread-embedding group(81.67%)(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).After 3 months of follow-up,the recurrence rate in the combination group(3.45%)was lower than that in the thread-embedding group(16.33%)(χ2=5.199,P=0.023).Conclusion Myofascial trigger point thread-embedding combined with Zhengqing Fengtongning injection is effective in treating KOA.It can significantly improve patients'symptoms and knee joint function,alleviate pain,inhibit systemic inflammation,reduce the recurrence rate,and demonstrates good safety.
Keywords：knee osteoarthritismyofascial trigger pointsacupoint thread-embedding therapyZhengqing Fengtongning injectionknee functioncomparative effectiveness research
Publication Date：2025-10-20
Online Publishing Date：2025-10-28(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 149-155 )