The Impact of Self-Acupressure on the Pain, Joint Stiffness and Physical Functioning of Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: People with knee osteoarthritis have a low quality of life due to joint pain and stiffness that severely limits their daily activities.  This study aims to investigate the impact of self-acupressure on the pain, joint stiffness and physical functioning of patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 78 patients aged 50 to 70 years with knee osteoarthritis who referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital Clinic and private orthopedic clinics in Ahvaz province, Iran, in 2018. The patients were recruited based on the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to one of the three groups of self-acupressure (n=26), Sham (n=26) and control (n=26). Patients in the intervention group applied daily self-acupressure to five special points around their knees for eight consecutive weeks, the sham group applied pressure on some points far from the special points on their knees, and the control group received no intervention. The data were collected using Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and a checklist for daily recordings of pain medication and were analyzed using Chi-square and analysis of variance in SPSS 20. The significance level was set at P > 0.05. Results: The comparison of changes within the group showed that the intensity of pain in the intervention group had a decreasing trend over time (P <0.0001). The average joint stiffness, physical functioning and total WOMAC score showed a significant decrease in the intervention group (P <0.0001). Frequency of analgesic use was also reduced by the intervention group over time (P= 0.026). Conclusion: According to the results, self- acupressure is effective in reducing the intensity of pain and joint stiffness and improving the physical performance of seniors with knee osteoarthritis. Overall, this easy and affordable intervention is recommended for this group of people.