A study on effects of electroacupuncture treatment on lower limb muscle strength in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis based on isokinetic muscle strength test
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of elderly knee osteoarthri-tis(KOA)based on isokinetic muscle strength test,and analyze the impact of electroacupuncture treatment on improving lower limb muscle strength caused by elderly KOA.Methods The patients who were admitted to Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Medicine of Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from January 2021 to May 2023 were selected.The minimum sample size was calculated by G-power 3.1.9.7 software,and 36 cases were obtained.They were divided into elec-troacupuncture group and control group according to random number table method,with 18 cases in each group.The electroacu-puncture group received electroacupuncture therapy,while the control group received routine rehabilitation training.Both groups received treatment three times a week and continued intervention for 8 weeks.Before and after intervention,WOMAC scores,isokinetic muscle strength tests for flexor and extensor muscles,and peak torque ratio between active muscle and antagonist muscle were measured and compared between the two groups.Results WOMAC scores:Compared with before intervention,WOMAC scores of both groups were improved in terms of pain,stiffness,joint function and total score(P<0.05),and the electroacupuncture group was significantly better than the control group in terms of pain,stiffness,joint function and total score(P<0.05).Peak torque(PT value):The PT value of the extensor and flexor muscles in the electroacupuncture group showed improvement at various angular velocities compared to before intervention(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference be-tween the two groups(P>0.05),but the difference before and after intervention was larger in the electroacupuncture group than that in the control group(P<0.05).Peak torque ratio(H/G value)between active muscle and antagonist muscle:There was no significant change in H/G value at different angular velocities in both groups(P>0.05).Conclusions Electroacupuncture therapy can improve the strength of flexor and extensor muscles in KOA patients,thereby restoring the biomechanical balance of the muscles around the knee joint and improving the stability of the knee joint.