Comparative Effectiveness of Ear and Body Acupressure for Postoperative Pain in Elderly Women Following Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Trial

Introduction: Knee arthroplasty or knee joint replacement is a common treatment method used to relieve pain caused by knee arthritis among the elderly. Postoperative pain control is a challenge in knee arthroplasty. Despite existing evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupressure for pain management, limited research has directly compared the efficacy of body and auricular acupressure in reducing pain following knee arthroplasty. To address this knowledge gap, the present study aims to compare the effectiveness of these two acupressure techniques in alleviating pain severity among elderly individuals undergoing knee replacement surgery. Materials and Methods: This three-group randomized clinical trial study was conducted on ۱۴۱ elderly women undergoing knee arthroplasty surgery at Shafa Yahiaeian Hospital in Tehran in ۲۰۲۳. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups of ۴۷. The patients of the body acupressure and auricular acupressure groups received intervention for ۱۵ min, thrice a day at an interval of ۴ h, for ۳ days. Body acupressure was performed on points, including ۱-Hegu LI۴ (Large Intestine ۴) and ۲-LI۱۰ (Shousanli), on both sides of the body, first on the right side and then on the left side. The Yintang acupoint, a singular midline point located at the glabellar region (mid-forehead), was selected for its demonstrated anxiolytic properties and endorphin-mediated analgesic effects. Auricular acupressure was performed on the following points: Shenmen and Thalamus in both ears, and the knee point only on the operated side. Control group patients received only routine interventions. Visual analog scale (VAS) and McGill’s Abbreviated Mental Test Scale were