Whether due to an injury or a medical condition, many people suffer from knee pain. Various traditional treatments, such as surgery, ice and physical therapy, are used to treat knee pain. Studies have been done that confirm the benefits of acupuncture--a Chinese treatment also used to treat conditions such as nausea, headaches, menstrual cramps and other forms of pain--on knee pain.
Procedure
Acupuncture is an alternative medical treatment during which the acupuncturist inserts extremely fine needles in your skin at strategic points on your body. Unlike the Chinese, who invented acupuncture and believe it balances energy, Western practitioners consider acupuncture points to be spots for stimulation of nerves, muscles and connective tissue, which may boost your body's natural painkillers and increase blood flow.
Knee Pain
A four-year study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center found that acupuncture can significantly reduce pain and stiffness, and improve mobility in people who suffer from knee osteoarthritis. Acupuncture was administered to patients who had been taking anti-inflammatory medicine, but still experienced pain. The study compared the results of patients who received acupuncture with patients who received sham acupuncture, and found that acupuncture in combination with medicine significantly reduced pain. Other studies, performed by scientists at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in the United Kingdom, also found acupuncture to reduce pain more than placebo, according to a 2009 article published in the online version of the "Daily Mail."
Frequency
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center study, it takes a significant period of time until acupuncture decreases pain and increases function in the knee. Participants received acupuncture treatment for 26 weeks. At first they received two treatments a week, but treatment was gradually limited to once a month. Though the study found that patients who received real acupuncture--as opposed to sham acupuncture--had improved function and decreased pain, the decrease was not significant until the 14th week of treatment.
How it Works
According to the Mayo Clinic, no one knows exactly why or how acupuncture affects the level of pain you experience. The 2009 article published in "Daily Mail" states that pain relief from acupuncture may be a result of your body releasing neurotransmitters and endorphins, which act as natural painkillers.
Other Treatments
In addition to acupuncture, there are many other treatments for pain in your knee joint. If surgery isn't necessary, physical therapy, orthotics, knee braces, injections, ice and elevation may help relieve pain. Reiki, a form Japanese energy therapy, may also be affective, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
