Therapeutic effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion plus medications for senile osteoporosis and its effect on serum BMP-2 and OPG levels

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion plus medications on senile osteoporosis (SOP), and to explore the related mechanisms. Methods A total of 70 elderly participants with osteoporosis were randomly divided into an observation group and control group, with 35 cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional drugs, and the observation group was treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion on the basis of the conventional drugs. Both groups were treated for 3 months. Before and after treatment, assessed the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, determined the bone mineral density of the participants’ lumbar spine (L 2 -L 4 ) and left femoral neck, and detected the participants’ serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels. Results After treatment, the VAS scores of both groups were lower than before treatment (both P