Acupuncture for knee pain
The knee rarely hurts on its own. The hips, the quads, and the alignment above and below usually have a hand in it, so we treat the whole leg, not just the sore joint.
Chronic knee pain is persistent pain in or around the knee lasting more than a few weeks. It can come from cartilage, ligaments, tendons, or the muscles that control how the joint tracks.
We check the joint and everything that loads it, the hips, quads, calves, and how you're aligned, so we can treat what's causing the strain rather than just the sore spot.
Symptoms we treat
If any of these sound like your experience, acupuncture is worth a conversation. This isn't a diagnosis, your first visit is.
Why acupuncture works here
We work three layers at once, local, segmental, and central, and pick the mix based on what your knee needs.
From first visit to plan
The same four steps for everyone, at a pace that isn't rushed. The first visit includes a consultation.
The clinical picture
Chronic knee pain is persistent pain in the knee joint lasting more than 4 weeks. It can result from various conditions that affect the structures within and around the knee, including bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The knee joint is a complex hinge joint formed by the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and patella (kneecap). The joint’s stability and movement are supported by several structures:
- Cartilage: The knee contains two types of cartilage, the menisci (shock-absorbing fibrocartilage) and articular cartilage, which covers the ends of bones to facilitate smooth movement.
- Ligaments: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) stabilize the knee.
- Tendons: The quadriceps and patellar tendons connect muscles to the knee, enabling movement.
Chronic knee pain may stem from conditions such as:
- Osteoarthritis: Degeneration of articular cartilage, leading to joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain.
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Pain due to misalignment or overuse of the patella, often aggravated by activities like squatting or climbing stairs.
- Tendinopathies: Chronic inflammation or degeneration of tendons, especially the patellar tendon, causing pain with jumping or running.
- Meniscus Tears: Damage to the meniscal cartilage can lead to persistent pain, swelling, and joint instability.
- Ligament Injuries: Chronic pain can result from partial or healed ligament tears that affect knee stability.
Chronic knee pain often involves inflammation, cartilage degradation, or changes in the surrounding tissues. Prolonged inflammation can damage tissues and lead to fibrosis or cartilage erosion, causing pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Additionally, weakened or imbalanced muscles around the knee can increase joint strain, exacerbating pain.
Chronic knee pain may include the following symptoms:
- Persistent or intermittent pain, often worsened with specific activities (e.g. climbing stairs or prolonged sitting)
- Swelling, stiffness, and sometimes joint instability
- Decreased range of motion and strength
Conventional diagnosis by a Medical Doctor typically involves a physical examination, imaging (X-ray, MRI), and sometimes lab tests to assess for inflammatory conditions. Treatment may include rehabilitation exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, lifestyle modification, and, in some cases, surgical intervention if conservative measures fail.
Acupuncture treatment aims at first and foremost reducing the pain and discomfort felt by the patient in their daily activities. Acupuncture points will be chosen to reduce any muscle tension and increase circulation in any atrophied muscles. Electrical stimulation is often applied as it has been shown to increase the production of pain-reducing chemicals such as endorphin and regulate the nervous system’s response to chronic pain.
While direct resolution of any serious structural issues such as a torn ligament is not likely with acupuncture, it can provide lasting relief of many chronic symptoms by addressing the pain and dysfunction sustained by surrounding and supporting structures even in such serious cases.
膝 knee
Read seul in Korean. Hanja are learned meaning first, then sound, so this one is 무릎 슬.