The Impact of Fu’s Subcutaneous Needling on Lower Limb Muscle Stiffness in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: Study Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial [Response to Letter]

Abstract

Hu Li,1,2 Cong Cong Yang,3 Tianyu Bai,1 Jian Sun,4,5 Zhonghua Fu,4,6 Jia Mi,3 Li-Wei Chou7–9 1Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250031, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ultrasound, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250031, People’s Republic of China; 4Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, People’s Republic of China; 5Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China; 6Institute of Fu’s Subcutaneous Needling, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, 404332, Taiwan; 8Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, 406040, Taiwan; 9Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Asia University Hospital, Asia University, Taichung, 413505, TaiwanCorrespondence: Li-Wei Chou, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, No. 2 Yuh-Der Road, Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, Email [email protected]