Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42232684›Full record

ArticleEClinicalMedicine2026

Electroacupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: a multicentre randomised controlled trial assessing symptomatic and structural efficacy.

Minghui Hang, Yubo Shao, Wang Lu, Xiaoyun Wang, Hao Xu, Shaohua Chen, Xiang Yu, Junjun Zhu, Xianggeng Luo, Honggang Yi and 27 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in EClinicalMedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

37 authors.

Minghui HangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Yubo ShaoLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Wang LuLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Xiaoyun WangShanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Hao XuLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Shaohua ChenTianshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Changning District, 200232, Shanghai, China.
Xiang YuShanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200137, China.
Junjun ZhuSchool of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
Xianggeng LuoSchool of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
Honggang YiDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Jiabao ZhangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Yimeng WangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Shiyong XueLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Shunchao LiuTianshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Changning District, 200232, Shanghai, China.
Zheng GongTianshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Changning District, 200232, Shanghai, China.
Zhipeng SongTianshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Changning District, 200232, Shanghai, China.
Lianbo XiaoDepartment of Orthopedic, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai, 200052, China.
Zheng XiangDepartment of Orthopedic, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai, 200052, China.
Shiyan YanInternational Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
Ting ZhangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Ruoyu YaoLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Tao WangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Zhanying TangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Lin CongLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Qiang LiLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Haiyin ZhaoLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Weiwei MengTianshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Changning District, 200232, Shanghai, China.
Yibin FanShanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200137, China.
Rongguang AoShanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200137, China.
Bingli LiuShanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200137, China.
Liyuan TaoResearch Center of Clinical Epidemiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100089, China.
Xiaohua GuShanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200137, China.
Li DingDepartment of Orthopedic, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai, 200052, China.
Tao WuDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
Yong XuRuijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
Yongjun WangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Qianqian LiangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: While electroacupuncture (EA) alleviates pain in knee osteoarthritis (KOA), high-quality evidence from large trials is limited, and its potential to influence structural progression is unknown. We investigated whether EA confers structural benefits beyond symptom relief. Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, parallel-group, sham-acupuncture (SA)-controlled trial at six Shanghai hospitals, eligible participants were assigned (1:1) to EA or SA, administered three times/week for six weeks, with 30-week follow-up. Patient enrolment occurred from November 30, 2021, to April 26, 2024, and the final follow-up was completed on November 22, 2024. The primary outcome was the change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) global score (0-240) at week 6. The minimal clinically important improvement (MCII) was predefined as a ≥12% relative improvement from baseline in the WOMAC global score. Key secondary outcomes included the WOMAC pain, stiffness, and function subscales, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Lequesne index, the Lysholm score, and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Exploratory outcomes included artificial intelligence (AI)-based knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of cartilage morphology and synovial inflammation. This trial was prospectively registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000036292). Findings: Of 686 assessed, 480 participants were randomised (EA: n = 240; SA: n = 240). At week 6, the EA group showed a significantly greater reduction in WOMAC global score than the SA group (adjusted mean change 65.35 vs 24.76, mean difference [MD]: 40.56, 95% CI 36.35-44.77; Interpretation: In patients with KOA, a 6-week course of EA provided substantial and durable symptomatic relief, representing a clinically meaningful therapeutic benefit. Exploratory MRI findings suggest that EA might have anti-inflammatory and cartilage-protective effects, but these structural signals require confirmation in trials specifically designed and powered for imaging endpoints. Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Key Program, Grant No. 82530121; General Program, Grant No. 82474534), the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (Health Youth Talent Project, Grant No. 2022YQ025), the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Medical Innovation Research Special Project, Grant Nos. 25Y12800800 and 23Y31920100), the Shanghai Oriental Talents Program (Leading Talent Project), the Traditional Chinese Medicine Innovation Team and Talent Support Program-National Traditional Chinese Medicine Multidisciplinary Cross-Innovation Team Project (ZYYCXTD-D-202401), and the Shanghai Triennial Initiative for Promoting Clinical Proficiency and Innovation Capabilities in Municipal Hospitals (Grant No. SHDC2020CR1010A).

Indexed as

AcupunctureArticular cartilageArtificial intelligenceKnee osteoarthritisMagnetic resonance imagingRandomised controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID42232684
PMCPMC13223986

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.