Treatment outcomes of knee osteoarthritis using electroacupuncture combined with short-wave therapy at Hai Phong Traditional Medicine Hospital, 2025-2026

Abstract

Objectives: 1. To describe the clinical and X – ray characteristics of patients with knee osteoarthritis treated at the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hai Phong Traditional Medicine Hospital, during 2025–2026. 2. To evaluate the treatment outcomes of electroacupuncture combined with short-wave therapy in these patients. Subjects: A total of 30 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis based on clinical examination and radiographic findings were treated at the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hai Phong Traditional Medicine Hospital, from November 2025 to March 2026. According to traditional medicine classification, the patients were diagnosed with Bi syndrome (wind–cold–damp type) combined with liver–kidney deficiency. Method: A prospective interventional clinical study was conducted using a before-and-after comparison design without a control group. Results: The mean age of the study group was 71,80 ± 7,68 years, with the highest prevalence observed in individuals aged over 70 years. The female-to-male ratio was 76,7% to 23,3%. The majority of patients were engaged in manual labor (63,3%). The proportion of patients with unilateral knee involvement was 36,7%, while bilateral knee involvement accounted for 63,3%. Grade I obesity was observed in 46,7% of patients. The combined intervention of electroacupuncture and short-wave therapy demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The mean VAS pain score decreased by 3,00 ± 0,51 points after treatment. Knee joint range of motion increased by 14,59 ± 2,75 degrees. The severity of knee osteoarthritis, as assessed by the Lequesne, index decreased by 5,80 ± 1,10 points following treatment. The heel-to-buttock distance increased by 8,14 ± 2,58 cm after treatment. This combined treatment modality was found to be safe for patients. Conclusion: The combination of electroacupuncture and short-wave therapy is effective in patients with knee osteoarthritis, contributing to pain reduction and improvement in joint mobility.