Comparative effectiveness of moxibustion and acupuncture for the management of osteoarthritis knee: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

研究概要

This systematic review and meta-analysis included 21 randomized controlled trials involving patients with knee osteoarthritis, comparing the effectiveness of moxibustion versus acupuncture. Pooled outcomes of interest included pain scores and therapeutic effective rates. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) for pain reduction favored moxibustion, specifically fire needle moxibustion, with significant results. Similarly, the pooled risk ratio (RR) for therapeutic success also supported greater efficacy of moxibustion over acupuncture. Moxibustion, particularly fire needle moxibustion, demonstrated superior effectiveness in managing knee osteoarthritis compared to acupuncture, suggesting it as a more favorable treatment modality in clinical practice.