Acupuncture Reduces Impairment of Osteoarthritis

A landmark study has shown that acupuncture not only provides pain relief but also improves function for people with osteoarthritis. These findings were reported in the December 21, 2004, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The multicenter phase III clinical trial involved 570 patients, age 50 and older, with osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants had significant pain in their knees the month before joining the study, had not experienced acupuncture, had not had knee surgery in the prior six months, and had not used steroids or other injections. They were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or participation in a self-help group. Patients continued to receive standard medical care, including anti-inflammatory medications such as COX-2 selective inhibitors, opioid pain relievers, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The progress of patients was assessed at four, eight, 14, and 26 weeks. By week eight, acupuncture patients were showing a significant increase in function and by week 14, a significant decrease in pain, compared with the other two groups. The results held through week 26. Overall, those who received acupuncture had a 40% decrease in pain and a nearly 40% improvement in function.

"This trial, which builds upon our previous NCCAM [U.S. Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]-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,” noted study leader Brian Berman, M.D., director of the Center for Integrative Medicine and professor of family medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (Baltimore).

The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. More than 20 million people in the United States alone have osteoarthritis.




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U. Maryland School of Medicine