Effects of thumb‐tack needling combined with sporting on older adult patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized active‐control clinical trial

Aim The aim of this clinical study was to explore the effects of thumb‐tack needling combined with sporting (TTNS) therapy on the improvement of pain and joint function in older adult patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods A total of 120 older adult patients with KOA were randomly assigned to receive TTNS therapy or medicine treatment (Med group) only for 1 month. The patients were followed up for 3 months and clinical efficacies were evaluated using a visual analog scale to assess pain, the Lequesne scoring system to assess motor function, and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index to assess KOA severity. Blood was collected to measure the levels of interleukin‐6 and tumor necrotic factor‐alpha using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results The data suggested that TTNS therapy resulted in a significantly higher clinical efficacy ( P = 0.012). Visual analog scale score, Lequesne index, and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index of the TTNS group at the time of post‐treatment (1 month) and post‐follow‐up (3 months) were also lower compared with the Med group. Patients in the TTNS group also showed lower levels of serum tumor necrotic factor‐alpha and interleukin‐6. Conclusions TTNS therapy is more efficacious than pharmacological treatment in improving the clinical outcomes of patients with KOA, which suggests its clinical utility in the management of KOA. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 415–420 .