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Did you search for acupuncture in Clinton Hill? Acupuncture can be helpful for managing your knee arthritis symptoms.

In our last blog, we explained what acupuncture is and how it can be used to address a wide variety of painful conditions throughout the body.  When a physical therapist considers it to be appropriate, they will recommend that acupuncture be combined with several other interventions, with the goal of bringing about the greatest benefits for each patient.  One group of patients that may stand to improve from a course of acupuncture is those who have knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), sometimes called wear-and-tear arthritis, is a condition in which the natural cushioning between joints—cartilage—gradually wears away.  Over time, this causes the bones of these joints to rub more closely against one another because there is less shock-absorbing cartilage.  Once this happens, individuals with knee OA will begin to experience symptoms like pain, stiffness, swelling, a feeling of warmth and a decreased ability to move the knees normally.

OA is the most common form of arthritis, and although it can occur in any joint in the body, it’s seen more often in the hips and knees than anywhere else.  Knee OA can also occur at any age, but the risk for developing it increases with older age because the body loses its ability to heal the damaged cartilage.  This is why about 10% of men and 13% of women over the age of 60 have knee OA.  Being obese or overweight also increases the chances of developing knee OA, since the additional weight puts added pressure on the knees and accelerates the damage to cartilage.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for knee OA, but treatments like physical therapy can be used to reduce symptoms and help patients function better in their everyday lives.  In some cases, a physical therapist might find it appropriate to combine physical therapy interventions like stretching and strengthening exercises with acupuncture.  Many studies have pointed out the various benefits of acupuncture for alleviating painful symptoms, and the same goes for knee OA.  According to a study from 2013:

As a summary of the current available research, acupuncture can be considered one of the more effective physical treatments for alleviating knee OA pain in the short-term.

So if you’re dealing with knee OA, a treatment program combining acupuncture with or without physical therapy may be the right approach for your condition.  Our expertly trained clinicians can perform a full-scale evaluation and determine what’s best for you, so that you can start moving without pain once again.

Click here for our contact information.  We have a clinic right here in Clinton Hill for you.