• Yoshinori Mikashima, Tadashi Takagi, Taisuke Tomatsu, Mariko Horikoshi, Katsunori Ikari, and Shigeki Momohara.
• Department of Orthopaedics, Takagi Hospital, Imadera 5-18-19, Oume, Tokyo 198-0021, Japan. ymikashima2007@yahoo.co.jp
• J Tradit Chin Med. 2012 Dec 1;32(4):545-8.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine whether acupuncture is effective in reducing pain and swelling around the knee and improving range of motion (ROM) during the post-acute phase of rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsFollowing TKA, 80 knees in 80 patients were randomly assigned to either an acupuncture treatment group (Group A) or a control group (Group C). In Group A, the complementary treatment of acupuncture was performed three times/week from postoperative day 7 until postoperative day 21. Outcome measures were: i) pain as assessed by a visual analog scale; ii) reduction of swelling around the knee as indicated by its circumference at the center of the patella; and iii) ROM of the affected knee.ResultsGroup A patients had significantly reduced pain and swelling around the knees and earlier recovery of ROM than did those in Group C.ConclusionAcupuncture provides effective treatment during the post-acute phase of rehabilitation after TKA with respect to pain relief, reduction of swelling around the knee, and early recovery of ROM.

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