EFECTO DE LA ELECTROACUPUNTURA VS DICLOFENACO, SOBRE LOS ARCOS DE MOVILIDAD EN PACIENTES CON OSTEOARTROSIS DE RODILLA

Abstract

Introduction: The osteoartritis (OA) is a degenerative chronic joint disease and the first cause of incapacity in the world. Because its treatment is just focus in sintomatology, it is important to evaluate complementary therapies in order to reduce the secondary effects of existing drugs and to improve the quality life of patients. In the present work, a comparison between of diclofenaco (AINE drug) and electroacupuncture was made over the mobility amplitude arcs in patients with OA of knee. Method: The study was made with 34 patients with OA of knee, distributed in two groups, Group A (diclofenac treatment) and Group B (electroacupuncture treatment). The patients were evaluated in three sessions during five weeks and the amplitude of the mobility arcs was measured, additionally, the sections B and C of WOMAC scale were also applied. Results: Improvement in the amplitude of the mobility arcs for both groups at the end of the experiments was observed, nevertheless, this improvement was equivalent for both treatments (p<0.005). The analysis of sections B and C of the WOMAC scale the electroacupuncture group turned out to be more effective to improve the rigidity and functionality of the knee with respect to diclofenac group. Conclusion: For this study population, the electroacupuncture and diclofenac have the improvement in the amplitude of the mobility arcs of patients with OA of knee.