Acupuncture: Relief for Chronic Knee Pain?

Struggling with osteoarthritis, one of the main causes of knee pain—especially in the elderly—is challenging. Your pain not only can limit activities, the condition tends to worsen since it’s a result of “wear and tear” on joints. Even though millions of people are affected by this condition, few solutions are available.

Medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs including celecoxib and Ibuprofen, offer minimal relief that, at best, is temporary. Also, side effects can be serious, including stomach bleeding and increased risk of heart disease.

Acupuncture, however, is now increasingly used as a non-medicinal treatment for chronic pain relief. Documentation suggests that acupuncture may reduce pain and improves mobility in patients with chronic knee pain, without adverse side effects.

The form used by health practitioners today is derived from traditional Chinese medicine and uses one or more thin needles inserted at specific locations in the body, depending on the location of the pain. Many believe that acupuncture needles stimulate nerves and muscles that lead to a reduction in pain and offer increased function.

So the next time you think of popping a pill to reduce the discomfort of osteoarthritis, you might want to think about an alternative. An Eastern approach, such as acupuncture, might be one of the smartest choices you can make for your wellness regimen.

For further information: “Acupuncture treatment for chronic knee pain: a systematic review,” A. White, N.E. Foster, M. Cummings, and P. Barlas, Rheumatology, vol. 47, March 2007.