Author(s)

KaiLong Sun, ShangJun Xia, Jian Zhang^*

Affiliation(s)

Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hongmei Community Health Service Center, Shanghai 200231, China.

Corresponding Author

Jian Zhang

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the effect of micro-adjustment manipulation combined with traditional manipulation versus traditional manipulation alone in the treatment of varus knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by analyzing kinetic parameters, WOMAC scores, and clinical efficacy; and to explore the mechanism of adding micro-adjustment manipulation to traditional manipulation in the treatment of KOA. Methods: A total of 80 patients with varus knee osteoarthritis (7 cases dropped out during the process) were randomly divided into two groups. The combined group (n=37) received micro-adjustment manipulation during the first knee joint treatment, followed by traditional manipulations such as “One-Finger Meditation” and “Tui Fa.” The traditional group (n=36) received only traditional manipulations such as “One-Finger Meditation” and “Tui Fa.” Both groups were treated for 4 weeks, twice a week, one course of treatment lasting 4 weeks. WOMAC scores, kinetic parameters, and clinical efficacy were observed. Results:Osteoarthritis scales: After the first manipulation and after 4 weeks of manipulation, WOMAC scores, functional scores, and VAS scores in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment (P<0.05). After the first manipulation, the pain score in the micro-adjustment group decreased more significantly than that in the traditional group (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the stiffness score in the combined group decreased significantly compared with before treatment (P<0.05). Kinetic parameters: After 4 weeks of manipulation, the flexion torque in both groups increased compared with before treatment (P<0.05). After the first manipulation, the adduction moment impulse in the combined group decreased significantly compared with before treatment (P<0.05). Clinical efficacy: The effective rates of the combined group after the first manipulation and after 4 weeks were 83.78% and 91.89%, respectively; while those of the traditional group were 80.56% and 91.67%, with no statistical difference. Conclusion: Both methods are effective for the treatment of KOA. The micro-adjustment manipulation of the knee joint has a better immediate analgesic effect, and the combination of micro-adjustment and traditional manipulations shows superior improvement in stiffness after one treatment course compared with traditional manipulations alone. The adduction moment impulse after the first treatment with micro-adjustment manipulation decreased significantly compared with before treatment.

KEYWORDS

Varus knee osteoarthritis; Micro-adjustment manipulation; One-finger meditation; Tui Fa; Kinetic parameters

CITE THIS PAPER

KaiLong Sun, ShangJun Xia, Jian Zhang. Micro-adjustment manipulation combined with traditional manipulation for knee osteoarthritis with varus deformity. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research. 2025, 7(2): 44-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/jpmr3045.

REFERENCES

[1] Zeng QY, Huang SB, Xiao ZY, et al. Clinical and epidemiological study of symptomatic osteoarthritis. Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine, 1995, 34(2): 88–90.

[2] Fu YY, Gong L, Shao S, et al. Progress in tuina manipulation therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Massage and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2017, 8(14): 36–37.

[3] Li YH, Chen YF, Qin WK, et al. Anatomical essence of “tendon” in traditional Chinese medicine. Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2019, 40(3): 374–377.

[4] Liang HG, Jiang SY, Li JH, et al. Efficacy and gait analysis of the sitting knee-adjusting manipulation for knee osteoarthritis. Beijing Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2018, 37(2): 135–138.

[5] Xie ZQ, Cui LM, Wang YS, et al. Anatomical analysis of lesion points in “Jiejin disease”. Global Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2019, 12(10): 1569–1570.

[6] Liang HG, Jiang SY, Li JH, et al. Efficacy and gait analysis of the sitting knee-adjusting manipulation for knee osteoarthritis. Beijing Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2018, 37(2): 135–138.

[7] Chinese Orthopaedic Association (COA) Joint Surgery Group, Chinese Medical Doctor Association Orthopaedic Branch Osteoarthritis Group, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases (Xiangya Hospital), et al. Chinese guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis (2021 edition). Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics, 2021, 41(18): 1291–1314.

[8] Wang B, Yu NS. Expert consensus on the stepwise treatment of knee osteoarthritis (2018 edition). Chinese Journal of Joint Surgery (Electronic Edition), 2019, 13(1): 124–130.

[9] Kang ZR, Gong L, Xing H, et al. Preliminary exploration on the concept and principle of the sitting knee-adjusting manipulation for knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2020, 34(4): 98–102.

[10] Gu F. Professor Cao Renfa’s Manipulative Techniques and Clinical Experience. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing House, 2016.

[11] Chinese Orthopaedic Association (COA) Joint Surgery Group, et al. Chinese guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis (2021 edition). Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics, 2021, 41(18): 1291–1314.

[12] Wang B, Xing D, Dong SJ, et al. Consensus on the epidemiology and disease burden of knee osteoarthritis in China (2018 edition). Chinese Journal of Joint Surgery (Electronic Edition), 2019, 13(1): 124–130.

[13] Hua X, Sun JY, Li G, et al. Therapeutic massage for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 2021, 19(5): 354–363.

[14] Xie ZQ, Cui LM, Wang YS, et al. Anatomical analysis of lesion points in “Jiejin disease”. Global Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2019, 12(10): 1569–1570.