Study Summary

Twelve randomized controlled trials, including 997 patients with knee osteoarthritis, were analyzed in this systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effects of scraping therapy versus alternative treatments. The pooled outcomes assessed included Lysholm scores, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. The analysis showed significant improvements in joint function and reductions in pain with scraping therapy, evidenced by increased Lysholm and HSS scores, and decreased VAS and WOMAC scores. The findings suggest that scraping therapy may offer clinical benefits for knee osteoarthritis, but the low quality of evidence calls for more rigorous research.