Acupuncture: Oh Those Aching Joints

For the most common form of arthritis, acupuncture may be the answer.

By Katie Gilbert, published on June 20, 2006 - last reviewed on October 17, 2007

Got joint pain? Before you pop a pill or schedule invasive surgery, you may want to ask your doctor about acupuncture. In this traditional Chinese therapy, needles penetrate the skin painlessly—targeting points called meridians. Meridians, sites of energy pathways, are found throughout the body. Research has shown that the needles stimulate the release of opioid peptides, one of the body's natural responses to pain.

Studies show that acupuncture can alleviate some types of arthritis—most commonly, osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis, caused by the deterioration of cartilage within joints, is one of the top causes of chronic disability. Sufferers have turned to treatments including steroid injections, physical therapy and cartilage implants.

Steroid injections work, but relief is short-lived and the option runs the risk of infection. Non-steroidal drugs—like Voltaren, Lodine and Indocin—can be helpful, but not without significant side effects such as peptic ulcers (particularly in patients over 65). Physical therapy has proven to be beneficial in restoring knee function, but it can be time-consuming. And the invasive option of cartilage implants is beneficial only in mild to moderate cases; the procedure cannot completely replace cartilage in the knee.

Because no ideal remedy exists, researchers are constantly seeking alternatives. Acupuncture may be one method. It is less invasive, faster and more cost effective in controlling knee pain.

One study from Charite University in Germany found that acupuncture relieved osteoarthritis in the knee. After eight weeks of treatment, patients who were given acupuncture felt a decrease in pain and better joint function. Conversely, patients who received sham acupuncture, or no acupuncture at all, did not see any decrease in pain.

And a review of several studies in Arthritis & Rheumatism also concludes that acupuncture may be a good treatment option for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The review showed that acupuncture effectively controlled osteoarthritis pain, though the data were mixed in regard to re-establishing knee function. So if your current treatment isn't giving you the relief you need, ask your doctor about acupuncture—and perhaps you'll pin down pain once and for all.