New study acupressure relieves arthritis pain

An acupressure self-treatment can relieve osteoarthritis pain and also significantly improve the affected everyday function. This has been shown in a recent study from the USA.

Acupressure self-treatment can relieve osteoarthritis pain. (Image: underdogstudios / fotolia.com)

The randomized controlled trial included 150 patients over the age of 65 years (average age 73 years). The subjects were randomized to three groups. Group 1 received the usual treatment (control group). The second group performed an acupressure on themselves and the subjects of the third group were instructed to do a sham acupressure. The participants of the control group were also able to receive acupressure training after the end of the study.

The acupressure group was to stimulate nine different acupoints for pain reduction with the help of a special massage wood. In addition, the patients were given informational material and an instructional DVD to take home. In the group with sham acupressure nine points were stimulated, which were not acupuncture points. Patients with acupressure and sham acupressure also received their usual pain therapy. Therapy group participants should perform the application once a day, five days a week for two months.

After four and eight weeks, the subjects were examined by a doctor. In addition, the study physicians in weekly telephone calls asked the course of pain and mobility limitations. As primary endpoint, researchers selected the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) Pain Scale (0-20 points).

Acupressure and sham acupressure significantly reduced the pain compared to the control group. From 6.5 points in the acupressure group, it dropped to 5.4 after four weeks and to 4.8 points after eight weeks. That made a difference of 1.7 points. In the group with sham acupressure there was a similar decline within two months from 6.8 to 5.5 points (minus 1.3 points). In the control group, the value dropped only by 0.6 points. The WOMAC subscale led to a similar picture of physical limitations. However, in both scales, the difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture group was not significant. There was a significant difference only in the difference between these two groups and the control group.

Pain was significantly reduced by 0.75 points with acupressure treatment and 0.5 points more with sham acupuncture than in the control group.