• Acupuncture is Effective in Treatment of Chronic Pain

  • Acupuncture is Effective in Treatment of Chronic Pain

    A recent study by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) shows that acupuncture can help with pain from musculoskeletal conditions, knee osteoarthritis and chronic headache. The study included 140 trials in all and used a comparison with sham acupuncture in determining which types of chronic pain can be alleviated.

    Acupuncture is often used as treatment for joint pain and long-term headaches. Studies have long shown that acupuncture is safe when given by experienced professionals. However, the question has been whether or not it provides clinical benefit or if the effects are attributed to the “placebo effect.” There were two parts to the study.

    First Part

    These latest researchers aimed to give patients and decision-makers more guidance in understanding the role of acupuncture in chronic pain through 29 randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture with sham acupuncture in adults suffering from osteoarthritis, chronic headache or musculoskeletal pain of the neck, back and shoulder.

    Studies were collected from the UK, the United States, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Most found high follow-up rates, with many study participants having no awareness that there was a treatment given. That being said, individual trial results were different thanks to variations in the controls and methods used.

    Second Part

    The second part to the study included 114 trials in 9,709 people with knee osteoarthritis. The results found:

    • Acupuncture improved quality of life in comparison with usual care.
    • Patients who received acupuncture had less pain than people receiving sham acupuncture.
    • Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of musculoskeletal, osteoarthritis and chronic headache pain.

    Bottom line shows that acupuncture in the management of chronic headache pain as well as musculoskeletal and osteoarthritis pain could affect future treatment recommendations. The downside is that the benefit could be perceived as small, leading to questions of practicality and cost in terms of treatment for common long-term conditions.

    Specifically in the UK, it is hard to locate accredited acupuncturists; therefore, appropriate training would be required in order to make this treatment more widespread.

    Contact Metro Detroit Acupuncture

    For more insight into this study and many others for the treatment of chronic pain, get in touch with Metro Detroit Acupuncture today at 248-432-2846. Marino Moutafis, the founder and owner of Metro Detroit Acupuncture in Southeast Michigan, is a nationally certified acupuncturist and licensed by the Michigan Board of Acupuncture. Acupuncture in Southeast Michigan can be an effective way to manage your chronic pain. You need to come to a professional for this. We are your source.