正规临床试验证明针灸对关节炎疼痛有效
路透社迈阿密健康消息 在美国佛罗里达迈阿密海滩召开的美国疼痛医学学会年会上，一项由美国国立卫生研究所资助的研究结果显示：做为常规治疗的辅助手段，针灸能够减轻骨关节炎患者的疼痛。
虽然有越来越多的病人求助于替代疗法，许多医生也想在实践中结合替代疗法，但替代疗法往往缺乏有效性的临床试验证据。
为此，马里兰大学医学院的布莱恩· M· 博曼博士领导的研究小组，研究了针灸对中老年人膝关节炎疼痛的作用。研究员对73位标准抗炎药治疗不能缓解的中重度膝骨关节炎患者进行了评估。病人被随机分为两组：继续接受单纯的抗炎药物治疗或抗炎药物治疗加8个星期的针灸治疗。三个月后发现，针灸确实减轻了病人的疼痛，而且减少了关节的僵硬，改善了关节功能。
这项研究结果导致博曼研究小组计划进行一项针对 570 个病人的更大的临床试验。目前，博曼博士还正在进行另外一项由美国国立卫生研究所资助的项目，研究针灸对牙科手术后的镇痛效果。
Acupuncture Shown to Reduce Arthritis Pain
MIAMI BEACH, Florida (Reuters Health) - Acupuncture in addition to conventional therapy reduces the pain suffered by people with osteoarthritis, according to the results of an NIH-supported study presented here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.
Although more patients are turning to complementary medicine, and more physicians want to integrate alternative care into their practices, evidence for the efficacy of these methods is generally lacking, according to Dr. Brian M. Berman, from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Berman and colleagues studied the impact of acupuncture on pain levels in knee arthritis among the elderly. The researchers evaluated 73 people with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee that could not be relieved by standard anti-inflammatory drugs. The patients were randomly assigned to either continue on anti-inflammatory drugs alone or to add 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment.
After 3 months, ``there were significant changes,‘‘ Berman told Reuters Health. ``Acupuncture did reduce their pain, they had less stiffness, and they were able to function better.‘‘
He said the results offer encouragement as he and his colleagues plan a larger trial of 570 patients.
Berman also is conducting another NIH-funded study to examine the efficacy of acupuncture for pain after dental surgery., 百拇医药
虽然有越来越多的病人求助于替代疗法，许多医生也想在实践中结合替代疗法，但替代疗法往往缺乏有效性的临床试验证据。
为此，马里兰大学医学院的布莱恩· M· 博曼博士领导的研究小组，研究了针灸对中老年人膝关节炎疼痛的作用。研究员对73位标准抗炎药治疗不能缓解的中重度膝骨关节炎患者进行了评估。病人被随机分为两组：继续接受单纯的抗炎药物治疗或抗炎药物治疗加8个星期的针灸治疗。三个月后发现，针灸确实减轻了病人的疼痛，而且减少了关节的僵硬，改善了关节功能。
这项研究结果导致博曼研究小组计划进行一项针对 570 个病人的更大的临床试验。目前，博曼博士还正在进行另外一项由美国国立卫生研究所资助的项目，研究针灸对牙科手术后的镇痛效果。
Acupuncture Shown to Reduce Arthritis Pain
MIAMI BEACH, Florida (Reuters Health) - Acupuncture in addition to conventional therapy reduces the pain suffered by people with osteoarthritis, according to the results of an NIH-supported study presented here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.
Although more patients are turning to complementary medicine, and more physicians want to integrate alternative care into their practices, evidence for the efficacy of these methods is generally lacking, according to Dr. Brian M. Berman, from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Berman and colleagues studied the impact of acupuncture on pain levels in knee arthritis among the elderly. The researchers evaluated 73 people with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee that could not be relieved by standard anti-inflammatory drugs. The patients were randomly assigned to either continue on anti-inflammatory drugs alone or to add 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment.
After 3 months, ``there were significant changes,‘‘ Berman told Reuters Health. ``Acupuncture did reduce their pain, they had less stiffness, and they were able to function better.‘‘
He said the results offer encouragement as he and his colleagues plan a larger trial of 570 patients.
Berman also is conducting another NIH-funded study to examine the efficacy of acupuncture for pain after dental surgery., 百拇医药