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Call (312) 863-0731 For An Appointment

17 N. Wabash Ave. Ste 678 Chicago, IL 60602

Acupuncture Center Chicago Square Logo

17 N. Wabash Ave. Ste 678 Chicago, IL 60602

Acupuncture for Arthritis

Studies haven’t been able to prove acupuncture helps arthritis, but it may be worth pursuing.

Acupuncture has recently gained some mainstream acceptance as a medical treatment. Research studies offer limited, but hopeful evidence that acupuncture can alleviate arthritis symptoms. Acupuncture works by ensuing qi (pronounced “chee”) can flow through the body along various channels called meridians. When the flow of this energy is blocked, it can result in illness or pain. More than 2,000 acupuncture points connect the various meridians. Stimulating those meridians with needles, can correct the free flow of qi and help alleviate pain.

Acupuncture minimizes pain by “untying muscular straitjackets – releasing tight, spasmed, shortened muscles to their resting state,” explains Tim Rhudy, an acupuncturist in Delmar, New York. It also helps release natural pain-fighting endorphins.

The benefits of acupuncture have been difficult to prove, because of limited high-quality studies on the subject of arthritis and acupuncture. Below is a summary of some recent research that has been conducted:

  • OA. Similar to previous research, a 2014 study in JAMA found people who had acupuncture experienced slightly less pain compared with those who had no treatment. The authors found the results were not significant enough to support the recommendation of acupuncture. For patients in pain, even a slight benefit may be enough to justify trying the treatment.
  • RA. Studies on acupuncture for RA have not been high quality. They have not yet been able to effectively prove the treatment offers significant improvement in joint swelling, damage, or other measures of the disease. However, acupuncture may help certain people in managing their pain.
  • Fibromyalgia. In a 2014 review article in Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, researchers reviewed the results of nine studies on acupuncture for fibromyalgia. Though a few studies identified that acupuncture worked more effectively than drugs to manage the condition, most of the studies were not well designed. The authors concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to prove acupuncture works better than placebo. They determined that more research is needed.

Some experts challenge if pain relief noted in the studies is authentic or the result of a placebo effect which suggests patients feel better simply as a result of the needles being applied to their skin. In a 2012 meta-analysis of studies published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers found real acupuncture was slightly more effective than placebo at treating chronic pain; 50% of acupuncture patients said their pain improved and 42.5% of patients receiving placebo treatments reported pain improvements.

Other doctors suggest that even if the benefits from acupuncture are a result of the placebo effect, it still could be helpful. Additional research is suggesting that fake needles and other placebo treatment may block pain signals from reaching the brain and promote other changes that could relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis and other conditions.

The potential benefit may depend on the severity of your arthritis, and how treatment it provided, Rhudy says. Though multiple sessions may not be cost effective. Acupuncture prices can range from $75 to $200 per session. Medicare and Medicaid will not cover the cost, but some private health insurance companies provide partial coverage. “Many U.S. insurers do provide some acupuncture coverage,” says C. James Dowden, executive administrator of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. “But what conditions they cover vary.”

If a patient is interested in acupuncture, they should ask their doctor to recommend a certified provider. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can also be a helpful tool for finding acupuncturists.

Services We Offer : Conveniently Located in the Chicago Loop

Sunae Son, L.Ac, M.S.O.M. has spent much of her life exploring and researching western and eastern medicines, combining these practices over a decade of field and laboratory studies into mindful patient care in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

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