OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE SHOW IMPROVEMENT
May 28th, 2008
Acupuncture for osteoarthritis is most effective for individuals with symptomatic osteoarthritis who have moderate pain despite conventional medical therapy. Acupuncture for osteoarthritis may be a primary therapy or may be integrated into allopathic health care. Acupuncture for osteoarthritis treatment often incorporates selected acupoints at the site of pain and distal acupoints located at sites away from the painful area along related energetic pathways.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis, causing more than seven million physician visits per year, second only to cardiovascular disease as the cause of adult chronic disability.
As an adjunct therapy, acupuncture for osteoarthritis is often integrated into allopathic treatment plans. Individuals with intractable osteoarthritis may also require disease modifying agents for pain reduction, lifestyle modifications and physical therapy.
Acupuncture integrated into allopathic health care can relieve knee and hip osteoarthritis pain and improve joint function within three months, according to a recent study appearing in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
The study was one of the largest acupuncture studies to date and was designed to reflect general medical practice. Assessing 3,553 osteoarthritis patients, the researchers compared 322 patients given 15 acupuncture sessions in the initial three-month period with 310 who received no acupuncture for the first three months. A third group of 2,921 patients who did not consent to randomization received the same treatment as the acupuncture group. All patients received primary care.
After the initial three months, the researchers found that those receiving acupuncture experienced less pain and joint stiffness. “Patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the knee or the hip who were treated with acupuncture in addition to routine care showed significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life compared with patients who received routine care alone,” the authors noted.
Acupuncture for osteoarthritis should be seen as a long term process, especially in cases where the condition has been present for several years. Acupuncture for osteoarthritis and Chinese herbal medicine are individualized to each person’s constitution following diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Acupuncture for osteoarthritis may be combined with moxibustion to decrease the swelling, stiffness and pain associated with osteoarthritis. Acupuncture for osteoarthritis often results in improved functional ability and reduced dependence on medications.
Individuals suffering from osteoarthritis respond remarkably well to acupuncture treatment. Chinese herbal formulas for osteoarthritis contain herbs that relieve pain, as well as herbs that nourish and strengthen the joints. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas are natural and safe therapies that produce no side effects.
For more information about acupuncture for osteoarthritis call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
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