Assessing the Central Analgesic Mechanisms of Tuina in Knee Osteoarthritis Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Motivation: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disease that severely impacts quality of life; however, the primary neural mechanisms through which tuina alleviates pain remain poorly understood. Goal(s): This study aimed to investigate tuina's effects on functional connectivity (FC) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) in KOA patients using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Approach: Twenty-seven KOA patients underwent a 6-week tuina intervention, with brain activity assessed via rs-fMRI before and after treatment to evaluate changes in neural activity. Results: Findings revealed significant improvements in ReHo and FC in pain-related brain regions, highlighting tuina's role in modulating central pain mechanisms. Impact: This study highlights tuina's analgesic effects in KOA, potentially transforming pain management practices. It raises new questions about integrating traditional therapies into clinical settings, enhancing understanding of pain mechanisms, and improving outcomes for patients with chronic pain conditions.