Clinical Trials Detalhe

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by functional disability and pain. Although acupuncture is widely used, western acupuncture studies on RA show no conclusive positive result. Acupuncture is regarded as a reflex therapy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis was shown to be an individual neurovegetative state allowing to individually allocated acupoints. Positive results were reported using a classical diagnostic procedure to allocate acupoints to the patient according to the Shang Han Lun. The investigators are interested if acupuncture compatible with this ancient theory would be successful in improve hand function in RA patients. The investigators therefore developed a prospective randomized control trial in a three-armed parallel group design with a standardized treatment intervention. Only patients with the TCM diagnosis of a so-called Turning Point syndrome will be allowed in the experimental phase. This may harmonize TCM diagnosis and the standardized intervention, in order to optimize potential therapeutic effects.

Acupuncture

Inclusion Criteria: * Compliance inform consent * Patients with RA * Fulfill The ACR criteria of RA * Impairment of the hand strength with or without pain in the hands during the grip procedure * Chronic pain: either persistent or intermittent over a minimum period of three months prior to recruitment * Current pain: greater than 30/ 100 mm on a pain visual analogue scale (VAS) within the last 24 hours despite medication * Patients on stable dose treatment for at least 3 weeks Exclusion Criteria: * Under the age of 18 years * Previously had acupuncture * Localized skin infections * Severe chronic or uncontrolled co-morbid disease * The wish to get a pension.