Annals of Medicine, David Singer Enterprise
April 17, 2007
According to the National Institutes of Health, this study was the "largest, longest and most rigorous study of Acupuncture is now condsidered a 'new' addition to therapies for degenerative osteoarthritis." Results showed that Acupuncture relieved the pain and improved function in patients who suffer with arthritis of the knee. 570 patients, ages 50 an older, participated in the study. All patients had arthritis in one or both knees. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: 190 patients received 23 Acupuncture sessions, 191 patients received 23 sessions of sham acupuncture, and 189 patients took six two-hour education courses. All patients continued receiving care from primary physicans. Researchers found that patients who received 23 sessions of acupuncture over a six month period reporteda 40% improvement in knee function and a 40% reduction in pain by the end of the 14th week.