Acupuncture for Knee Pain
February 23rd, 2009
Acupuncture and Knee Pain
Knee pain is a common occurrence for many individuals and may be caused by stress or overuse, degeneration from aging, ligament or tendon injury, tears in the knee cartilage, bursitis, a dislocated knee cap, hyperextending the knee, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis.
Often, minor cases of knee pain and swelling can be treated with icing to reduce inflammation, rest, elevating the leg, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen). However, NSAIDs can have adverse side effects, especially if taken over a long period of time.
Symptoms of knee pain, depending on severity, can range from redness, fever, swelling, and pain to inability to bear weight on the knee, difficulty extending or straightening the knee, loss of flexibility, inability to walk, and deformity of the knee joint.
When self-care measures and over-the-counter medications are ineffective in reducing the pain and swelling associated with knee pain, other options should be considered. Acupuncture may be considered as a therapeutic alternative for individuals with knee pain symptom complexes that do not improve with traditional therapies.
Acupuncture can reduce knee pain by increasing the production of neurotransmitters and endorphins, which naturally minimize pain. Acupuncture activates the body’s pain-modulating system, changing the processing and perception of pain information at various levels of the nervous system. Acupuncture can help to unblock the qi, or the body’s vital energy, which aids in healing and overall health.
While no allopathic therapy has been determined as completely effective in the treatment of knee pain, acupuncture has been shown to successfully decrease the swelling, stiffness and pain associated with various knee pain conditions, including osteoarthritis of the knee and knee pain which occurs without known etiology.
Acupuncture can treat knee pain associated with syndromes involving the body’s organ systems or those cases of knee pain that present with multi-system symptoms.
For individuals with severe cases of knee pain that require surgery, acupuncture can serve as an adjunctive therapy to ease discomfort. Acupuncture can improve knee joint motion and flexibility, increase muscle strength and decrease stiffness.
Acupuncture can also resolve pain and swelling due to new-onset knee pain without a history of preceding injury or health condition.
For more information about acupuncture for the treatment of knee pain call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
3 Responses to “Acupuncture for Knee Pain”
1Cenzing
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