Acupuncture for Knee Pain
Knee pain is a common musculoskeletal problem, occurring in any age group and may arise due to a range of conditions, including knee osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain, tendinopathy, ligament injuries, meniscal pathology, and post-operative rehabilitation. In musculoskeletal physiotherapy, exercise-based rehabilitation remains the primary intervention in managing knee pain; however, acupuncture can be used as a supplementary treatment for pain management and functional progression.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles at selected acupuncture points to stimulate the nervous system. From a biomedical perspective, this stimulation is thought to influence pain modulation through neurophysiological mechanisms, including the release of endogenous opioids and changes in central pain processing (Zhao, 2008). Evidence from large individual patient data analyses suggests acupuncture can provide clinically meaningful pain relief in chronic musculoskeletal conditions, including knee pain (Vickers et al., 2018).
The strongest evidence for acupuncture in knee pain relates to knee osteoarthritis. A number of systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials have demonstrated improvements in pain and physical function when acupuncture is compared with sham or usual care (Lao et al., 2008; Berman et al., 2004). Further support comes from a meta-analysis titled The Effects of Acupuncture on Chronic Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis,which reviewed multiple randomised controlled trials in people with chronic knee osteoarthritis (Corbett et al., 2016). The authors reported that acupuncture was associated with significant short-term improvements in pain and physical function, with ongoing improvements in function observed at longer follow-up periods. These findings support the use of acupuncture as part of a combined intervention management approach, particularly where pain is limiting participation in rehabilitation.
Clinically, acupuncture may also be considered in conditions such as persistent patellofemoral pain, patellar tendinopathy, reactive joint effusion, or post-surgical knee pain, where short-term pain management may assist engagement with exercise therapy.
When delivered by a suitably trained and regulated physiotherapist, acupuncture is considered safe, with side effects typically mild and short-lived, such as local soreness or minor bruising (NCCIH, 2020). Used appropriately and within scope of practice, acupuncture can be a valuable addition in managing all forms of knee pain.
If knee pain is limiting your daily activities, our physiotherapists can assess your condition and discuss whether acupuncture may be an appropriate for your personalised rehabilitation plan. By combining acupuncture with targeted exercise, movement retraining, and education, we aim to help you reduce pain, improve function, and get back to the activities you enjoy. Contact Ambulant Physiotherapy Ltd today to book an assessment and explore the treatment options available for you.
References
Berman, B. M., Lao, L., Langenberg, P., Lee, W. L., Gilpin, A., & Hochberg, M. C. (2004). Acupuncture for chronic knee pain in older adults: A randomized clinical trial. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 51(5), 745–752. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15407343/
Corbett, M. S., Rice, S., Madurasinghe, V., et al. (2016). The effects of acupuncture on chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 98(15), 1301–1310. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27655986/
Lao, L., Hamilton, G. R., Fu, J., & Berman, B. M. (2008). Acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Rheumatology, 27(3), 299–304. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10067-007-0737-0
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2020). Acupuncture. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture
Vickers, A. J., Vertosick, E. A., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Foster, N. E., Sherman, K. J., … Linde, K. (2018). Acupuncture for chronic pain: Individual patient data meta-analysis. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(19), 1444–1453. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1833879
Zhao, Z. Q. (2008). Neural mechanism underlying acupuncture analgesia. Progress in Neurobiology, 85(4), 355–375. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301008208000223
