Results from a landmark study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that acupuncture not only provides appreciable pain relief for knee osteoarthritis pain, but it also significantly improves function.
The study was the longest and largest randomized, controlled phase III clinical trial of acupuncture ever conducted. All of the 570 participants were age 50 or older with osteoarthritis of the knee, and had experienced knee pain during the month prior to joining the trial. They also had never received acupuncture treatments, had not had surgery in the previous six months, and had not used steroids or had similar injections.
Each participant continued with standard medical care. In addition, each received one of three treatment options: a 12-week self-help course for management of the condition, acupuncture, or sham acupuncture. WIth sham acupuncture, the patients think that the needles are being inserted at treatment points, when instead the needles are inserted at non-treatment points.
Results
At the start of the study, each participant's pain and knee function was assessed using standard arthritis measurement instruments and procedures. Progress was measured again at four, eight, 14, and 26 weeks. By week eight, participants receiving acupuncture were showing marked improvement in function. By week 14, the acupuncture group reported a significant decrease in pain, compared to the other two groups. Overall, acupuncture decreased pain and improved function by 40 percent.
"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," according to a statement from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). "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. NCCAM has been building a portfolio of research that is now revealing the power and promise of applying stringent research methods to ancient practices like acupuncture."
"This trial, which builds upon previous NCCAM-funded research, establishes that acupuncture is an effective complement to conventional arthritis treatment and can be successfully employed as part of a multidisciplinary approach to treating the symptoms of osteoarthritis," said Brian M. Berman, MD, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Acupuncture is the centuries-old practice of inserting thin needles into specific body points to improve health and wellbeing. In recent years, scientific studies have confirmed its usefulness in treating painful conditions – including arthritis. |
