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Table 3 CAM use among participants with radiographic-confirmed knee OA by BMI level (N = 2,675)

From: CAM use among overweight and obese persons with radiographic knee osteoarthritis

Categorya

BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2

BMI between 30 and <35 kg/m2

BMI between 25 and <30 kg/m2

BMI < 25 kg/m2

(n = 364)

(n = 804)

(n = 1,042)

(n = 465)

 

Percentage

Alternative medical systems

1.1

0.8

1.1

2.2

  Acupuncture

0.3

0.5

0.5

1.5

  Acupressure

0.3

0

0.3

0.4

  Chelation therapy

0

0

0

0

  Folk medicine

0

0

0

0

  Homeopathy

0.3

0

0.4

0.2

  Ayurveda/biofeedback/energy healing/ hypnosis/naturopathy

0.8

0.3

0.3

0.4

Mind-body interventions

11.8

10.8

8.4

14.6

  Yoga/Tai Chi/Chi Gong/Pilates

3.9

4.5

5.3

10.3

  Relaxation therapy, meditation, breathing

3.6

4.6

2.5

3.9

  Spiritual activities

7.1

4.4

2.7

3.2

Manipulation and body-based methods

5.5

5.7

4.9

5.0

  Chiropractic

4.7

4.6

4.1

3.9

  Massage

2.5

1.7

1.6

1.7

Energy therapies (Copper bracelets or magnets)

5.8

3.1

3.2

3.4

Biologically based therapies: topical agent

18.1

15.1

11.9

9.7

  Rubs, lotions, liniments, creams or oils(tiger balm/horse liniment)

17.6

14.8

11.7

9.7

  Capsaicin

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.3

Biologically based therapies: diet

2.2

0.8

0.9

1.7

Biologically based therapies: supplements

23.4

29.2

32.9

41.3

  Herbs

1.7

1.9

1.2

2.2

  Vitamins/minerals (nearly every day)

5.2

6.0

6.3

7.5

  Glucosamine (nearly every day)

19.8

24.5

28.8

36.6

  Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

3.6

6.0

6.0

6.5

  S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)

0.0

0.3

0.7

0.9

  Chondroitin (nearly every day)

19.0

22.1

26.5

32.5

Distribution b of CAM use:

    

  One

28.3

32.0

33.0

35.1

  Two

11.3

9.8

9.1

14.4

  Three or more

5.0

4.2

3.5

4.3

  1. aAs defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine;
  2. bNumber of CAM use was defined on basis of the broader categories.