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Scraping Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis, Study Reveals

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Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent condition causing significant discomfort and reduced mobility among sufferers. A recent comprehensive analysis has highlighted the potential benefits of scraping therapy, a traditional Chinese medical technique, in alleviating the symptoms of KOA. This development marks a significant stride in the exploration of non-conventional treatments aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and broadening market access to alternative therapeutic options.

Methodology and Scope

The study conducted an exhaustive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and several Chinese databases, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on scraping therapy for KOA. The search spanned from the inception of these databases to April 9, 2023. The inclusion criteria adhered to the “Participants-Intervention-Control-Outcome-Study design” framework, ensuring a robust selection of relevant studies. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the RoB 2.0 tool, and the data was synthesized through Meta-analysis using RevMan software. The evidence quality was graded using the GRADE system.

Findings and Implications

The Meta-analysis incorporated 12 RCTs involving 997 participants. The results demonstrated that the scraping therapy group exhibited significantly improved clinical outcomes compared to the control group. Specifically, the therapy group showed higher Lysholm and Hospital for Special Surgery scores, indicating better knee function, alongside reduced visual analog scale scores and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index scores, reflecting decreased pain and improved quality of life. Despite these promising findings, the overall quality of evidence was deemed low according to the GRADE system, suggesting a need for further high-quality studies.

Market access to scraping therapy as a treatment for KOA could potentially be expanded if future studies validate these findings, offering a viable alternative to conventional therapies. This could lead to more inclusive healthcare options, particularly in regions where traditional Chinese medicine is already well-established.

Concrete Inferences

– Scraping therapy significantly improves knee function and reduces pain in KOA patients.
– The therapy’s effectiveness could lead to its increased adoption and integration into standard treatment protocols.
– Further high-quality research is essential to establish the therapy’s efficacy definitively and facilitate its broader market acceptance.

In conclusion, while the current evidence indicates that scraping therapy may offer clinical benefits for KOA patients, additional rigorous studies are necessary to confirm these results and support its widespread use. The prospect of integrating scraping therapy into mainstream medical practice remains contingent on future research outcomes, potentially transforming treatment paradigms and enhancing patient care.

Original Article:

J Tradit Chin Med. 2024 Aug;44(4):633-641. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20240626.001.

ABSTRACT

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OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of scraping therapy on knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODS: A computerized search was conducted in several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, from the establishment date of these databases to April 9, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on scraping therapy for KOA were collected in accordance with the “Participants-Intervention-Control-Outcome-Study design” criteria. The methodological evaluation of the included studies was carried out using RoB 2.0, and Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan. The Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE System) was applied to grade the quality of evidence.

RESULTS: A total of 12 RCTs with 997 subjects were included in the Meta-analysis. Results indicated that compared with the control group, the scraping therapy treatment group exhibited increased Lysholm scores [mean difference (MD) = 4.96, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (3.18, 6.74), P < 0.000 01] and Hospital for Special Surgery scores [MD= 8.35, 95% CI(3.92, 12.78), P =0.0002] and decreased visual analog scale scores [MD = -2.11, 95% CI(-3.79, -0.44), P =0.01] and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index scores [MD= -6.77, 95% CI(-8.99, -4.56), P < 0.000 01)]. The quality of evidence obtained in this Meta-analysis was low according to the GRADE system.

CONCLUSION: The available evidence suggests that scraping therapy may have certain clinical efficacy in the treatment of KOA. However, further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm the findings.

PMID:39066523 | DOI:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20240626.001


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