New hope for knee osteoarthritis: How a single acupuncture point relieves pain and promotes mobility

New hope for knee osteoarthritis: How a single acupuncture point relieves pain and promotes mobility

Osteoarthritis of the knee, also known as osteoarthritis, is a slowly progressive joint disease that primarily affects older people. It leads to pain, stiffness and limited mobility of the knee, which can significantly affect the quality of life. One possible approach to relieving these symptoms could be acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine method that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. A new study has focused on examining the effectiveness of a specific acupuncture point known as Liver 7 (LR 7). The results suggest that treatment at this point can reduce pain and improve knee mobility.

In the study, 35 people between 40 and 65 years of age suffering from knee osteoarthritis were treated with LR 7 acupuncture. Treatment was given for 20 minutes per day, five days per week for two weeks. Pain and mobility of the knee were measured before and after the intervention. The results show a significant reduction in pain and an improvement in knee mobility.

Possible future impacts

This study could have far-reaching implications for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. It offers a non-invasive and low-side-effect alternative to traditional treatment methods such as medication or surgery. Future practices could rely more on acupuncture, specifically the LR 7 point, to relieve pain and improve mobility. This could lead to a paradigm shift in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, with a greater focus on holistic and alternative therapies.

Basic terms and concepts

• Osteoarthritis: Eine Form der Arthritis, die durch den Abbau des Gelenkknorpels und das darauffolgende Knochenwachstum gekennzeichnet ist, was zu Schmerzen und Steifigkeit führt.
• Akupunktur: Eine Behandlungsmethode der traditionellen chinesischen Medizin, bei der dünne Nadeln an spezifischen Punkten des Körpers eingeführt werden, um verschiedene Gesundheitsbeschwerden zu behandeln.
• LR 7 (Leber 7): Ein spezifischer Punkt in der Akupunktur, der für die Behandlung verschiedener Beschwerden verwendet wird, hier speziell zur Linderung der Symptome der Kniearthrose.
• WOMAC-Index: Ein Fragebogen, der speziell zur Bewertung von Schmerz, Steifigkeit und funktionellen Einschränkungen bei Osteoarthritis der Hüfte und des Knies entwickelt wurde.
• Goniometer: Ein Instrument zur Messung der Winkelbewegung in einem Gelenk, zum Beispiel im Knie.

Effectiveness of LR 7 acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee

The study examined the effects of acupuncture at Liver Point 7 (LR 7) on pain and range of motion in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OAC). Results showed a significant reduction in pain and improvement in knee mobility after 2 weeks of treatment, suggesting that LR 7 acupuncture is an effective adjunctive therapy for relieving these symptoms. The details of the study, its methodology and the results obtained are explained in detail below.

Study background

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a chronic degenerative disease of the musculoskeletal system that particularly affects the elderly population and significantly impairs their quality of life. Pain, stiffness and limited knee movements are the main features of OAC. To date, there are no studies on the effects of the acupuncture point Liver 7 (LR 7) on pain and mobility in OAC.

Study objectives

The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture at point LR 7 on pain and range of motion in patients with chronic knee osteoorthritis.

methodology

The study recruited 35 people aged 40 to 65 years, all of whom met the inclusion criteria. The treatment duration was 20 minutes per session, 5 days per week for 2 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used to evaluate outcomes and the degree of knee flexion and extension was measured using a goniometer.

Results

Pre- and post-test results were compared using paired t-tests. Acupuncture at the LR 7 point significantly reduced the WOMAC score from 49 to 30 (p < 0.001), indicating relief of pain. In addition, knee flexion range of motion increased from 110 to 115 degrees and knee extension significantly improved from 16 to 9 degrees (p < 0.001), indicating improved knee mobility.

conclusion

The study showed that 10 sessions of LR 7 acupuncture significantly reduced pain and increased range of motion in people with OAC. It follows that LR 7 acupuncture represents an effective adjuvant therapy for pain relief and treatment of OAC.

The complete study results and methods can be found in the external source link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38409813.