Effects of noninvasive interactive neurostimulation on symptoms of XXXX of the knee: a randomized, sham-controlled pilot study.

@entity1 @entity571 @entity158
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of noninvasive interactive neurostimulation used as an adjunct to usual care, on @entity158 and other symptoms in adults with @entity571 of the knee. DESIGN: Randomized, sham-controlled trial. SETTING: A university in the southern United States. SUBJECTS: Thirty-seven (37) adults with knee @entity571 (based on American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria). INTERVENTIONS: Seventeen (17) noninvasive interactive neurostimulation (active or sham) sessions over 8 weeks with a week 12 follow-up. OUTCOME MEASURES: Eleven-point numeric rating scale for weekly @entity158 ; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities @entity571 Index (WOMAC), @entity1 global assessment, and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) completed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12. RESULTS: For the main outcome, @entity158 , the differences between the groups over time did not reach statistical significance (all p > 0.05). However, a clinically important reduction in @entity158 (defined as a 2-point or 30% reduction on an 11-point numeric rating scale) was maintained at week 12 by the active noninvasive interactive neurostimulation group (2.17 points, 34.55% reduction) but not the sham group (1.63, 26.04% reduction). @entity158 improved over time in @entity1 regardless of group membership (numeric rating scale average @entity158 , p = 0.002; numeric rating scale worst @entity158 , p < 0.001; and @entity158 , p < 0.001), as did WOMAC function, WOMAC stiffness, and WOMAC total score (all p < 0.001). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups over time for the SF-36 Vitality scale, F (3, 105) = 3.54, p = 0.017. In addition, the active device group improved on the @entity1 global assessment from baseline to week 8 compared to the sham device group, F (1, 35) = 4.025, p = 0.053. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, clinically important reductions in knee @entity158 were maintained at week 12 in the active, but not the sham, noninvasive interactive neurostimulation group. Further study of this noninvasive therapy is warranted.
