Does acupuncture help with knee and hip osteoarthritis?

Is acupuncture right for you?
Only you and your doctor can determine if acupuncture might be helpful for you and your symptoms. I would encourage you to speak with your doctor about it. Research reveals that many patients pursue acupuncture without discussing this option with their medical doctors. I feel strongly that this is a mistake. Today, most medical doctors are increasingly open and well-informed about "alternative treatments" such as acupuncture. If you are considering acupuncture, or have questions about it, talk to your doctor.

References and suggested further reading:
Berman BM, Singh BB, Lao L, Langenberg P, et al. "A randomized trial of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee." Rheumatology (Oxford) 38:346-54, 1999

Christensen BV, Iuhl IU, Vilbek H, et al. "Acupuncture treatment of severe knee osteoarthrosis. A long-term study." Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 36:519-25, 1992

Ezzo J, Hadhazy V, Birch S, Lao L, et al. "Acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review." Arthritis Rheum 44:819-25, 2001

Fink MG, Wipperman B, Gehrke A. "Non-specific effects of traditional Chinese acupuncture in osteoarthritis of the hip." Complement. Ther. Med. 9(2):82-9, 2001

Haslam R. "A comparison of acupuncture with advice and exercises on the symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip - a randomized controlled trial." Acupuncture in Medicine 19(1): 19-26, 2001

Hay E, Barlas P, Foster N, et al. "Is acupuncture a useful adjunct to physiotherapy for older adults with knee pain?: the "acupuncture, physiotherapy and exercise" (APEX) study BMC Musculo Disorders 5:31, 2004

Molsberger A, Bowing G, Jensen K, Lorek M. "Acupuncture treatment for the relief of gonarthrosis pain - a controlled clinical trial." Der Schmerz 8:37-42, 1994

Scharf HP, Mansmann U, Sreitberger K, et al. "Acupuncture and Knee Osteoarthritis." Ann of Intern Med. 145:12-20 2006

Streitberger K, Witte S, Mansmann U, et al. "Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic pain caused by gonarthrosis: a study protocol of an ongoing multi-centre randomized controlled clinical trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 4:6, 2004

Tillu A, Tillu S, Vowler S. "Effect of acupuncture on knee function in advanced osteoarthritis of the knee: a prospective, non-randomised controlled study." Acupunct Med 20:19-21, 2002

Usichenko TI, Kuchline S, Witstruck T, et al. "Auricular acupuncture for pain relief after ambulatory knee surgery: a randomized trial." CMAJ 176(2):179-833, 2007

Vas J, Mendez C, Perea-Milla E, et al. "Acupuncture as a complementary therapy to the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: randomized controlled trial." BMJ, 329:1216, 2004

Witt C, Brinkhaus B, Jena S, et al. "Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized trial." BMJ, 366:136-143, 2005

Witt CM, Susanna J, Brinkhauss B, et al. "Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip: A randomized, controlled trial with an additional nonrandomized arm." Arthitis & Rheumatism, 54(11)3485-3493, 2006