Fig. 2

Study schedule for data collection. The informed consent and examination will be conducted after recruitment. Then, matched KOA patients will be randomized into two groups and receive treatment. Both clinical outcomes and MRI scans will be performed at 3 time points. Only clinical data will be collected at 48 weeks of follow-up subsequently. Adverse events will be recorded in the case report form at any time during the study. VAS visual analog scale, SF-MPQ the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, HAMD Hamilton Depression Scale, HAMA Hamilton anxiety scale, WOMAC the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, SF-36 the Short Form 36 Health Survey scale