To Identify The Role Of Meridian Points Interplay With Specific Exercise Program In Managing Knee Pain And Mobility: An Observational Study
Keywords:
Knee osteoarthritis, Acupressure, Physiotherapy, Pelvic floor, Root Chakra, Iliohypogastric plexus, VAS, KOOS, Integrative therapyAbstract
Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a common musculoskeletal condition that significantly affects quality of life by limiting mobility and causing persistent pain. Traditional physiotherapeutic approaches often offer short-term relief, prompting the need for integrative strategies that provide sustained functional improvement.
Objective: To observe the effects of a combined approach involving structured exercise and acupressure targeting the Muladhara (Root) Chakra or iliohypogastric plexus in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
Methodology: A total of 30 participants meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled and provided with a specific intervention involving physiotherapeutic exercises alongside stimulation of selected acupressure points associated with the root chakra. Pre- and post-intervention outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).
Results: A statistically significant reduction in pain was observed (VAS mean pre: 5.79 ± 2.13; post: 0.79 ± 0.77; p < 0.001). Functional outcomes also demonstrated marked improvement (KOOS mean pre: 45.31 ± 15.71; post: 3.81 ± 4.55; p < 0.001). Age and gender subgroup analysis revealed enhanced outcomes particularly in older females.
Conclusion: The observational findings suggest that integrating acupressure with physiotherapy may provide substantial benefits in pain relief and functional enhancement in knee osteoarthritis. These outcomes support the therapeutic potential of including energy-based interventions as a complement to conventional care
Downloads
References
Chen J, Guo H, Pan J, Li H, Wang Y, Liu Z, Xie Y, Jin S. Efficacy of acupuncture combined with active exercise training in improving pain and function of knee osteoarthritis individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2023 Dec 2;18(1):921. doi: 10.1186/s13018-023-04403-2. PMID: 38042802; PMCID: PMC10693122.
Sankar, Naveenkumar & K, Satya & Nath, Sathya & Muralidharan, Shrikanth. (2022). Efficacy Of Acupressure As A Pain Management Tool For Knee Osteoarthritis Among Geriatric Patients: A Meta Analysis. Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results. 13. 1351-68. 10.47750/pnr.2022.13.S08.168.
Sweta KM, Awasthi HH, Godbole A, Prajapati S. Physio-anatomical resemblance of inferior hypogastric plexus with Muladhara Chakra: A cadaveric study. Ayu. 2017 Jan-Jun;38(1-2):7-9. doi: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_140_17. PMID: 29861585; PMCID: PMC5954253
Nguyen US, Zhang Y, Zhu Y, Niu J, Zhang B, Felson DT. Increasing prevalence of knee pain and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: survey and cohort data. Ann Intern Med. 2011 Dec 6;155(11):725-32. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-155-11-201112060-00004. PMID: 22147711; PMCID: PMC3408027.
Atalay SG, Durmus A, Gezginaslan Ö. The Effect of Acupuncture and Physiotherapy on Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study. Pain Physician. 2021 May;24(3):E269-E278. PMID: 33988943.
Maurer N, Nissel H, Egerbacher M, Gornik E, Schuller P, Traxler H. Anatomical Evidence of Acupuncture Meridians in the Human Extracellular Matrix: Results from a Macroscopic and Microscopic Interdisciplinary Multicentre Study on Human Corpses. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Mar 21;2019:6976892. doi: 10.1155/2019/6976892. PMID: 31015853; PMCID: PMC6448339.
Sweta KM, Awasthi HH, Godbole A, Prajapati S. Physio-anatomical resemblance of inferior hypogastric plexus with Muladhara Chakra: A cadaveric study. Ayu. 2017 Jan-Jun;38(1-2):7-9. doi: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_140_17. PMID: 29861585; PMCID: PMC5954253
Zhang WB, Wang GJ, Fuxe K. Classic and Modern Meridian Studies: A Review of Low Hydraulic Resistance Channels along Meridians and Their Relevance for Therapeutic Effects in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:410979. doi: 10.1155/2015/410979. Epub 2015 Mar 2. PMID: 25821487; PMCID: PMC4363694.
Bai Y., Wang J., Wu J.-p., et al. Review of evidence suggesting that the fascia network could be the anatomical basis for acupoints and meridians in the human body. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011;2011:6. doi: 10.1155/2011/260510.260510 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Chang S. The meridian system and mechanism of acupuncture—a comparative review. Part 2. Mechanism of acupuncture analgesia. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2013;52(1):14–24. doi: 10.1016/j.tjog.2013.01.004. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

