Knee pain that arises from an injury (some of which are often sports related) or as a result of arthritis can be incredibly disruptive towards our daily activities. Individuals who suffer from knee pain will often times undergo physical therapy or take medication, however, sometimes the pain is so severe that doctors recommend surgery. At TCM Health Center we see many patients from mild to severe knee pain and use acupuncture to help treat the condition.
Acupuncture works towards balancing the qi (an essential force) and flow of energy in the body. It is believed that if a natural flow in the body has been blocked it can create pain or other complications. The reason why acupuncture is often so successful with pain conditions is due to its stimulation of the central nervous system to help release neurotransmitters such as endorphins, which act as natural painkillers. Patients who come in for knee pain often find that after a certain course of treatment they have significant improvement with the pain and inflammation.
In a study conducted by Christensen et al., researchers examined the effects of acupuncture on patients waiting for arthroplasty surgery. Patients were split into two groups—the first group received acupuncture treatment while the second group received no treatment. The results of the study showed that the first group had a significant reduction in pain and consumption of pain medication. Researchers concluded that acupuncture can significantly ease the comfort of individuals while waiting for surgery and even work as an alternative to surgery as nearly a fourth of the patients in the treatment group opted to not have surgery due to their successful results.
If you have any further questions about acupuncture treatment for knee pain, please feel free to give any one of our locations a call to schedule an initial consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
“For the past seven years I was unable to do long distance walking. I took a lot of steroids and injections, but the doctor told me I would have to eventually replace my knee. My daughter had moved to Switzerland and I wanted to come in so I could make a trip to visit her. And I just didn’t want to deal with a knee replacement. I decided to try out acupuncture and I came in three times a week for five weeks. When I flew to Switzerland I spent each night roaming the streets with my daughter. I was amazed with the pain reduction and swollenness and the increase in mobility- it was absolutely wonderful. Without acupuncture I wouldn’t have been able to make this trip.”