Acupuncture Journal in Medicine has suggested that acupuncture could be a viable treatment option for knee osteoarthritis. In addition to this, the study was titled, “Group acupuncture for knee pain: evaluation of a cost-saving initiative in the health service” and authored by Adrian White, Marion Richardson, Pamela Richmond, Jonathan Freedman, and Mark Bevis.
Additionally, the two-year study that was recently completed showed promising results in treating the major symptoms of osteoarthritis. Also, prior to this discovery common treatments for osteoarthritis included therapy, surgery, and specialized drugs that would surely relieve pain. This condition as well is quite common in the elderly and nearly fifty percent of people over the age of 85 will be affected too. It’s more important than the new study is pointing towards acupuncture as an effective treatment.
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A study was conducted which focused on subjects with an average age of 71 years old, who also had severe osteoarthritis that required surgery as a treatment. In a similar way, each subject specifically received more than 16 treatments spread out over a year period. Moreover, subjects reported a reduced amount of stiffness and pain after as little as one month of weekly treatments.
On the other hand, these findings are similar to a study that was completed in 2004 on acupuncture. That study focused on acupuncture and drugs as a combined treatment method. In addition to this, Medical experts were surprised at the results and are currently unable to explain why this treatment reduces pain in osteoarthritis suffers. The majority of subjects in the trial noticed marked differences over the two year period that they were receiving treatments as well.
It’s clear that the pain of osteoarthritis is caused by the joints wearing out which results in pain and discomfort. Right now, there is no current cure for osteoarthritis.
Acupuncture Demonstration
Watch Dr. Li Zheng demonstrate which acupuncture points around the knees can help relieve the pain of patients suffering from osteoarthritis.
Source: Boston Chinese Acupuncture
