Objective

2

To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture exercise combined with local acupuncture therapy in the treatment of training-induced knee joint injury.

Methods

2

Patients with knee joint injuries caused by military training or sports accidents were enrolled and randomly divided into the combination group， the acupuncture group， and the control group using a random number table method. The acupuncture group received acupuncture treatment once per day for 5 days， followed by 2 days of rest， with a total of 2 treatment courses. The combination group received local acupuncture therapy （same method as the acupuncture group） followed by acupuncture exercise therapy， 20 min per session， once per day for 5 days， with 2 days of rest， for a total of 2 treatment courses. The control group was treated with external application of Voltaren cream， 3~4 times per day for 7 days， with a total of 2 treatment courses. The efficacy was compared across groups， as well as the subjective evaluation scores for knee joint function （IKDC）， visual analog scale （VAS）， and Lysholm knee joint score， as well as adverse reactions before and after treatment.

Results

2

The total effective rates in the combination group and the acupuncture group were higher than that of the control group （

P

<

0.05）， with no significant difference between the combination group and acupuncture group （

P

>

0.05）. After treatment， the IKDC and VAS scores of all three groups were significantly improved compared to those before treatment （

P

<

0.01）. The IKDC scores in the combination group and the acupuncture group were higher than that of the control group （

P

<

0.01，

P

<

0.05）， and the VAS score in the combination group was lower than the control group （

P

<

0.01）. There was no significant difference in the IKDC and VAS scores between the combination group and th

e acupuncture group （

P

>

0.05）. After treatment， the total Lysholm scores of all three groups were significantly increased compared to those before treatment （

P

<

0.01）. The Lysholm scores in the combination group and the acupuncture group， as well as the pain scores in the combination group， were higher than those of the control group （

P

<

0.01）. The instability， pain， stair climbing， and squatting scores in the control group were significantly improved compared to those before treatment （

P

<

0.05）， and the instability， pain， and swelling scores in the acupuncture group were significantly improved （

P

<

0.01）. The Lysholm knee joint scores in the combination group were significantly improved compared to those before treatment （

P

<

0.01）， with no significant difference between the combination group and the acupuncture group （

P

>

0.05）. Throughout the study， there were no adverse reactions such as needling fainting， bent needles， stuck needles， broken needles， needle hole infection， nerve damage， severe skin allergies， or any other abnormalities caused by the interventions.

Conclusion

2

Both acupuncture exercise combined with local acupuncture therapy and local acupuncture therapy alone are effective in treating training-induced knee joint injuries. These treatments can improve symptoms， reduce pain， and enhance daily activity ability， with the former providing better pain relief.