February 5, 2020

Painful Arthritis in Your Knee? Acupuncture May Bring Relief

Traditional Chinese medicine technique recommended for chronic pain

Knee Arthritis Got You Down? Acupuncture Can Bring Relief

Contributor: Jamie Starkey, LAc

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

When your knee aches, day after day, you can’t walk easily. Climbing up and down stairs is a challenge. Pain wakes you up at night. It’s always on your mind.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common causes of chronic knee pain. It causes pain, inflammation and stiffness, making it hard to flex and extend your knee.

Across the country, doctors are striving to avoid prescribing medication, particularly opioids, for chronic pain. Research shows acupuncture to be a cost-effective way to treat pain with very little risk for the patient.

In fact, acupuncture is one of the treatments recommended for knee pain from osteoarthritis in national guidelines for physicians.

No two patients treated alike

Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine, with a rich history and lineage dating back thousands of years. It involves inserting hair-thin needles into the body to promote pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.

No two patients are treated alike. Some patients find relief with needles alone. Others need a more involved technique, such as electro-acupuncture (technically called percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or PENS).

Patients with knee arthritis respond particularly well to electro-acupuncture. When knee arthritis is mild or moderate, a limited number of sessions produce very good results. When arthritis is more advanced, or “bone-on-bone,” ongoing acupuncture is needed.

Advertisement

Acupuncture can also be combined with conventional treatments, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy and/or injections. In addition, acupuncture can provide short-term pain relief until knee replacement surgery is performed.

Acupuncture’s proven benefits

Many clinical studies support acupuncture’s ability to relieve osteoarthritis pain, particularly in the kneeOne study of 18,000 patients found acupuncture to be helpful for many pain conditions, including knee osteoarthritis.

In addition to promoting an anti-inflammatory effect, studies show that acupuncture releases endogenous opioid endorphins (the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals).

So where can you find an acupuncturist? Today, you can find one at your local hospital or in a private practitioner’s office.

Wherever you choose to go, your initial appointment will typically take longest. The acupuncturist will do a detailed assessment in order to create a treatment plan for you.

They can keep your physician informed about your progress.

Advertisement

Minimize the toll arthritis takes

Don’t let arthritis of the knee keep you in constant pain, and limit your ability to function and enjoy life.

But today, more than ever, it’s important to look beyond chronic pain medicine — especially opioids — for solutions.

Acupuncture is a good option to keep in mind to decrease pain, inflammation and stiffness, and increase range of motion, in your knee. And that can improve your over all quality of life, meaning you can better participate in all of your day-to-day activities, whether that’s at work, the park or the gym!

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Close up of hand in blue gloves inserting dry needling into muscles
February 13, 2024
What’s the Difference Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture?

Both can help reduce pain, but they’re very different in terms of origins, philosophies and practices

Person lying on exam table gets accupuncture from doctor to help in conception.
February 20, 2023
Acupuncture for Fertility: Can It Help You Get Pregnant?

It’s great for stress relief, which can go a long way when you’re trying to conceive

moxibustion on acupuncture needles in skin on adult's back
February 8, 2022
Moxibustion: What Is It and Does It Work?

This ancient treatment is often a complement to acupuncture

ear acupuncture NADA
October 13, 2021
Can NADA Acupuncture Help With Addiction and Trauma?

Discover the benefits of this ear acupuncture technique

tools used for gua sha
June 13, 2021
Why Gua Sha Might Be Good For You

Find out what it is and how it can help the body heal

accupuncuter performed on person's back
January 18, 2021
Needles? Ouch! And Other Acupuncture Myths, Debunked

Test your knowledge about this ancient medical art

healthcare provider readying a cortisone shot
October 13, 2020
Q&A: Can Cortisone Injections Ease My Joint Pain?

Find the answers to some of these common questions

ear beads acupuncture for smoking
September 24, 2020
Want to Quit Smoking? Acupuncture Can Help You With Cravings

Acupuncture, herbs and hypnotherapy curb cravings naturally

Trending Topics

Person in yellow tshirt and blue jeans relaxing on green couch in living room reading texts on their phone.
Here’s How Many Calories You Naturally Burn in a Day

Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity

person getting a sinus massage between brows
5 Sinus Massage Techniques To Relieve Pressure and Promote Drainage

A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses

woman snacking on raisins and nuts
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Ad