ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Med.
Sec. Geriatric Medicine
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1586357
This article is part of the Research Topic25 Years of 21st Century MedicineView all articles
Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine therapies for knee osteoarthritis：A Visual Analytics Analysis of the Research Domain
Provisionally accepted
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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This study provides a comprehensive review of the research on complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine therapies (CAIMT) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) from the database's inception (1994) to 2024. Using bibliometric analysis and narrative review, the study highlights the increasing interest in non-pharmacological treatments, such as acupuncture and Tai Chi, which have shown positive effects in alleviating pain and improving joint function in KOA patients. The research identifies eight key themes, including pain management, exercise, nutrition, and evidence-based practices, reflecting a shift towards integrated and personalized treatment approaches. The study underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations and financial support in driving research advancements. Despite the limitations of focusing solely on the Web of Science and English-language publications, the findings emphasize the role of CAIMT in enhancing patient quality of life and addressing the limitations of conventional treatments. Future research should prioritize safety assessments, longterm outcomes, and the integration of individualized treatment regimens to refine KOA management and promote patient health. This study offers valuable insights for academia and clinical practice, especially in the context of an aging population, highlighting the need for diverse and effective treatment options.
Keywords: knee osteoarthritis, Ageing, Complementary Therapies, Integrative Medicine, Pain Management, Musculoskeletal health
Received: 02 Mar 2025; Accepted: 21 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Luo, Wang and Guo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jiaojiao Guo, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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