Acupuncture for knee pain

What knee pain is

Knee pain has many sources. Robert often sees:

• Osteoarthritis, an age-related wearing down of the cartilage that cushions the knee. As the cartilage thins, the bones can start to rub. This can be very painful and can limit walking, stairs and sport.
• Chondromalacia patella, often called runner’s knee, where the cartilage under the kneecap becomes irritated or softened.
• Patellar tendinitis, often called jumper’s knee, an irritation of the tendon just below the kneecap.
• Meniscus and ACL tears, common injuries in skiing, soccer, basketball and other sports with quick turns.

How Robert treats knee pain

Robert is a certified practitioner of Toyohari, a Japanese style of meridian therapy. He trained in Japan in 2006 and 2007. He starts by reading your pulse carefully. That reading guides a gentle whole-body treatment with very fine needles and light contact. Some needles only touch the skin and are not inserted. Many patients barely feel them.

For knee pain, Robert also places a few fine needles around the knee. The aim is to ease pain, swelling and stiffness, and to help you move more easily. With osteoarthritis, acupuncture can help you manage the pain. It does not rebuild worn cartilage.

After a meniscus or ACL tear, acupuncture can support recovery alongside physical therapy, both before and after surgery if you need it.

For arthritic knees that ache more in cold, damp weather, Robert may add moxibustion, a warming therapy that uses the herb mugwort. He sometimes suggests a Chinese herbal formula as well.

You rest comfortably on the treatment table during the session. Loose pants that roll up above the knee make treatment easier. Robert sees one patient at a time, so visits are calm and unhurried.

Research suggests acupuncture can help with chronic pain, including osteoarthritis. A 2012 analysis of acupuncture for chronic pain pooled data from trials on osteoarthritis, back and neck pain, chronic headache and shoulder pain. Its authors concluded that acupuncture is effective for chronic pain.

What a course of treatment looks like

Your first visit takes about 75 minutes. Robert asks about your health history, how and when the knee started hurting, and what you would like to get back to doing. Then he reads your pulse and gives your first treatment. Return visits take about 45 minutes.

A typical course is 5 to 15 weekly sessions, depending on the cause and how long you have had the pain. Some people notice less pain after the first visit. For others, the change builds over several sessions. A recent tendon flare may settle sooner. Long-standing arthritis pain often does best with a longer course. Some people then come back from time to time to keep the pain under control.

When to see a doctor first

See a doctor, or go to urgent care, before starting acupuncture if:

• You cannot put weight on the leg
• The knee looks deformed or out of place after an injury
• You heard a pop and the knee swelled quickly
• The knee locks, catches or gives way
• The knee is hot, red and swollen, or you have a fever
• Your calf is painful, swollen or warm, which can be a sign of a blood clot

Acupuncture can work alongside the care of your doctor, surgeon or physical therapist.

Related conditions

Knee pain often overlaps with osteoarthritis, sports injuries and plantar fasciitis.