EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF TAOHONG SIWU DECOCTION COMBINED WITH ELECTROACUPUNCTURE AND THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
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Abstract
Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent chronic musculoskeletal disorder and a major cause of persistent pain, functional limitation and reduced quality of life, especially in older adults. In Vietnamese clinical practice, traditional medicine is commonly used; however, local evidence on combined protocols remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Taohong Siwu decoction combined with electroacupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound in inpatients with KOA. Materials and methods: A single-arm, pre–post interventional study was conducted in 45 KOA inpatients treated at Can Tho Traditional Medicine Hospital (August 2024-May 2026). All participants received a 14-day protocol including: electroacupuncture once daily for 30 minutes; Taohong Siwu decoction orally once daily (one package/day in two divided doses); and continuous-mode therapeutic ultrasound at 1 MHz for 10 minutes once daily over the painful knee region. Outcomes were assessed at baseline day 0, at days 7 and 14, including pain intensity (VAS), functional severity (Lequesne index), knee flexion range of motion and the heel-to-buttock distance. Overall clinical response was also classified at day 7 and day 14. Results: Mean VAS decreased from 7.11 ± 0.61 at baseline to 3.69 ± 0.97 on day 7 and 0.89 ± 1.335 on day 14 (p<0.001). The Lequesne score improved from 11.36 ± 1.55 to 6.82 ± 1.45 and 4.38 ± 1.336, respectively (p<0.001). Knee flexion increased from 87.82° ± 3.59° to 121.38° ± 8.01° and 133.64° ± 6.08° (p<0.001). Heel-to-buttock distance decreased from 16.36 ± 1.23 cm to 9.31 ± 1.81 cm and 4.87 ± 1.67 cm (p<0.001). At day 14, overall treatment outcomes were good in 68.89%, fair in 28.89%, and moderate in 2.22% of patients (p<0.001). Conclusion: Integrated regimen of Taohong Siwu decoction, electroacupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound was associated with marked short-term improvements in pain, function and knee mobility, with statistically significant improvements (p<0.001).
Keywords
Knee osteoarthritis, Taohong Siwu decoction, electroacupuncture, therapeutic ultrasound, Lequesne index
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