Is Acupuncture an Effective Treatment for Arthritis?

Inflammation and joint pain is common to all of the family of ailments known collectively as arthritis. To date, modern medicine has failed to find a "cure" for arthritis. Since many forms of arthritis are generally incurable, most doctors focus on treatment to relieve the painful symptoms of arthritis rather than looking for a cure.

Now, however, a new study connects acupuncture and relief of arthritis symptoms. The study said that the combination of acupuncture and arthritis can significantly reduce pain and improve function in those suffering osteoarthritis of the knee.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical procedure wherein hair-thin needles are inserted into points along "energy channels" - meridians, where the life force of the human body flows through. Practitioners believe that these needles remove blockage from energy channels, and ease the pain caused by the blockages

Acupuncture, one of the oldest medical procedures in the world, is a practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is based on the idea that the body's life force, also called "qi," flows along the body in pathways known as meridians. Acupuncture, which is now practiced widely throughout the world, started in China over 2000 years ago. With the recent discovery about the connection between acupuncture and arthritis, specifically on its role as a pain reliever, the procedure is increasingly becoming popular in the United States as well.

While it may sound painful to be stuck with needles, acupuncture is not the torture some may believe it to be. Most adherents of acupuncture suggest that there is only a slight sting when the needles prick the skin. The remainder of the procedure is not painful. The needles used by acupuncturists are very thin, very smooth, and are solid. They are not hollow like needles used in most medical procedures. Acupuncture sessions vary in duration, depending on the treatment that is being given. For treatment of arthritis, acupuncturists may suggest treatment a few times a week for several months.

National Institutes of Health Study on Arthritis and Acupuncture

The study on acupuncture and arthritis was conducted by the US National Institute of Health (NIH). One of the most detailed clinical trials to date on the effects of acupuncture on arthritic patients, the study found that patients that received acupuncture had a 40 percent decrease in pain and 40 percent increase in function compared to the baseline.

The study, conducted by rheumatologists and acupuncturists, included 570 patients, aged 50 and over, with osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients then randomly received one of three treatments - acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or participation in a control group.

"For the first time, a clinical trial with sufficient rigor, size, and duration has shown that acupuncture reduces the pain and functional impairment of osteoarthritis of the knee," said Stephen E. Straus, M.D., NCCAM Director. "These results also indicate that acupuncture can serve as an effective addition to a standard regimen of care and improve quality of life for knee osteoarthritis sufferers.