Acupuncture is an effective evidence-based treatment option for the management of knee pain and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage within the knee that acts as a buffer between bones wear and degenerate over time. As a result, causing inflammation in the joint, pain and restricted movement.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common occurring joint diseases. Estimates of approximately 250 million people are affected worldwide. Along with the hip and hands, knee osteoarthritis is also one of the most common osteoarthritis diseases.
Knee osteoarthritis generally affects older people that are 65 years and over, women are affected more so than men. Active people, professional and armature athletes. Lifestyle factors such as obesity and lack of exercise can also contribute to its cause.
The knee is the largest joint in our body and is a commonly injured joint. There are different types of injures that can affect the knee range from, sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, ligaments injury, tendonitis, meniscus, and tendon tears.
At Komyuniti our practitioners have clinical experience utilising acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis, pain, and injuries. We can evaluate and manage the various types of knee conditions. Our Acupuncturists are up to date with the current research and provide our clients with the latest evidenced-based acupuncture protocols and approach to treatment. This most recent study listed below provides clinical results for electro stimulus to acupuncture points found close to the knee.
Effects of intensity of electroacupuncture on chronic pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.
In this study, they found that electroacupuncture treatment over the duration of 2 weeks was able to alleviate the intensity of osteoarthritis knee pain compared to a sham acupuncture control group. This was indicated from the positive results of the conditioned pain modulation outcome measure. Demonstrating that electroacupuncture can increase the analgesic chemical massagers within the nervous system that correspond to how a person perceives pain occurring in the knee. (Lv et al, 2019)
There are many studies out there and the following research paper also supports acupuncture use:
Acupuncture and other physical treatments for the relief of pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee: network meta-analysis.
In summary, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis examining Acupuncture compared to other therapies. Over 152 studies with a total of 9709 patients involved, found that acupuncture outperformed standard care and muscle strength & condition exercises. (Corbett et al, 2013)
Our specialist electro-acupuncture practitioners have years of clinical experience and are able to replicate the clinical results of these studies. You can be reassured that our acupuncturist will provide the latest evidence-based treatments for individuals suffering from knee osteoarthritis and pain.
Written by Daniel Ooi
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References
Corbett MS, Rice SJ, Madurasinghe V, Slack R, Fayter DA, Harden M, et al. Acupuncture and other physical treatments for the relief of pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee: network meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2013 Sep;21(9):1290-8
Lv Z, Shen L, Zhu B, Zhang Z, Ma C, Huang G, Yin Jing, Yu L, Yu S, Ding M, Yuan X, He W, Jing X and Li M, et al. Effects of intensity of electroacupuncture on chronic pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2019 21:120
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