Effects of external qigong therapy on osteoarthritis of the knee. A randomized controlled trial.

Chen KW, Perlman A, Liao JG, Lam A, Staller J, Sigal LH.

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA. kchen@compmed.umm.edu

Abstract

The objective of our study was to assess the efficacy of external qigong therapy (EQT), a traditional Chinese medicine practice, in reducing pain and improving functionality of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). One hundred twelve adults with knee OA were randomized to EQT or sham treatment (control); 106 completed treatment and were analyzed. Two therapists performed EQT individually, five to six sessions in 3 weeks. The sham healer mimicked EQT for the same number of sessions and duration. Patients and examining physician were blinded. Primary outcomes were Western Ontario MacMaster (WOMAC) pain and function; other outcomes included McGill Pain Questionnaire, time to walk 15 m, and range of motion squatting. Results of patients treated by the two healers were analyzed separately. Both treatment groups reported significant reduction in WOMAC scores after intervention. Patients treated by healer 2 reported greater reduction in pain (mean improvement -25.7 +/- 6.6 vs. -13.1 +/- 3.0; p <>

PMID: 18654733 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC2582590Free PMC Article