CompletedNot Applicable

Electroacupuncture Versus Thread-Embedding Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis

Vietnam60 participantsStarted 2025-10-01

Plain-language summary

This randomized, assessor-blinded, parallel-group controlled trial will compare the effectiveness and safety of thread-embedding acupuncture versus electroacupuncture in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis. Eligible participants will be adults aged 38 years or older diagnosed with primary knee osteoarthritis according to the 1986 American College of Rheumatology criteria, with chronic knee pain lasting more than 6 months and baseline pain intensity of at least 5 points on the Visual Analog Scale. A total of 60 participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either thread-embedding acupuncture or electroacupuncture. Both groups will receive the same background standard care, including lifestyle advice and therapeutic ultrasound. The intervention period will last 4 weeks. The primary outcome will be change in total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score. Secondary outcomes will include pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale, WOMAC subscale scores, Patient Global Impression of Change, treatment satisfaction, rescue analgesic use, and adverse events.

Who can participate

Age range

38 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 38 years or older. * Diagnosis of primary knee osteoarthritis according to the 1986 American - College of Rheumatology criteria. * Chronic knee pain lasting more than 6 months. * Baseline knee pain intensity of at least 5 points on the Visual Analog Scale. * No use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within 1 week before study enrollment. * Willingness to participate in the study and ability to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Systemic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, hematological disorders such as coagulation disorders or platelet dysfunction, severe cardiovascular disease such as heart failure or unstable angina, systemic infection, malignancy, immunodeficiency, or current use of immunosuppressive medication or anticoagulant medication. * Acute knee arthritis with swelling or knee joint effusion. * Peripheral platelet count less than 150,000/mm³. * Pregnancy or breastfeeding. * Alcohol abuse or substance dependence. * Intra-articular corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injection into the affected knee within 6 months before study enrollment. * History of knee surgery or knee arthroscopy. * Signs of knee joint infection, including swelling, heat, redness, and systemic inflammatory response. * Severe radiographic knee osteoarthritis, Kellgren-Lawrence grade 4. * History of allergy, anaphylaxis, or contraindication to thread-embedding acupuncture or electroacupuncture according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Total WOMAC Score

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 2, and Week 4

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07665125

SponsorUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-03-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) trials