Evidence mapPaperPMID 41287809Full record

ArticleJournal of pain research2025

AI-Assisted Knee Infrared Imaging Based Acupuncture for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study Protocol.

Muyun Yang, Fengxi Qiu, Xianfei Xie, Lin Tao, Weihong Zheng, Yufeng Wu, Zhaohong Xu, Yan Xue, Yuelong Cao

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Article in Journal of pain research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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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

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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

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Muyun Yang *Characteristic Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Institution, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Fengxi Qiu *Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Xianfei XieDepartment of Orthopedics Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Lin TaoDepartment of Orthopedics Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Weihong ZhengDepartment of Orthopedics, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Yufeng WuDepartment of Orthopedics, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Zhaohong XuSchool of Artificial Intelligence and Application, Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Yan XueDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Shanghai, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0003-3077-2100
Yuelong CaoCharacteristic Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Institution, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0001-5883-0347

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The variability in acupoint selection limits the standardization of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and is one of the important factors affecting treatment efficacy. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and infrared imaging provide opportunities to enhance the precision and standardization of acupuncture. Methods: This multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate whether AI-assisted personalized acupuncture is superior to traditional acupuncture and sham acupuncture in alleviating pain and improving joint function in patients with KOA. A total of 120 participants will be recruited from four hospitals in China and randomly assigned to three groups: the specific acupoint group (n=40), the conventional acupoint group (n=40), and the sham acupuncture group (n=40). All groups will receive acupuncture treatment twice a week for 8 weeks, with a total of 16 sessions. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 8, and week 12. The AI system utilizes infrared imaging to identify heat-sensitive knee surface areas, and generates individualized acupoint prescriptions through internal decision analysis. Discussion: The primary outcomes are knee pain (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS) and function (WOMAC subscale). Secondary outcomes include knee pain and stiffness (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index subscale, WOMAC subscale), quality of life (Short Form 12, SF-12), knee range of motion, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinical efficacy, and inflammatory indicators (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). This trial is expected to provide high-quality evidence for the clinical value and standardization of AI-assisted acupuncture. Trial Registration: This study has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400087106, July 19, 2024).

Indexed as

acupunctureAIartificial intelligenceinfrared imagingknee osteoarthritiskoa

Identifiers

PMID41287809
PMCPMC12640602

What Socratic holds

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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 Socratic graph.