Acupuncture can relieve arthritis pain

According to a new study, acupuncture significantly reduces pain and improves function in those suffering osteoarthritis
of the knee.


Acupuncture has received mainstream acceptance, particularly for pain relief, in recent years and new research suggests the
ancient Chinese needle treatment can reduce pain and boost mobility.


The latest study by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is one of the largest and longest clinical trials to show such
conclusive effects and patients who underwent acupuncture treatment reported a 44 per cent average reduction in pain and a 40
per cent improvement in mobility.


Researchers enrolled 570 patients aged 50 or older with arthritis of the knee, who had significant pain in their knee the
month before joining the study. They were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: acupuncture, sham
acupuncture, or participation in a control group that followed the Arthritis Foundation's self-help course for managing their
condition.


Overall, those who received acupuncture had a 40 per cent decrease in pain and a nearly 40 per cent improvement in function
compared to baseline assessments.


Brian Berman, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, said: "We have demonstrated that traditional
Chinese acupuncture is an effective complement to conventional arthritis treatment and can be successfully employed as part
of a multi-disciplinary approach to treating the symptoms of osteoarthritis."


Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin needles into specific body points to improve health and well-being, a
traditional method originated in China more than 2,000 years ago.

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