Acupuncture for osteoarthritis
"Wear-and-tear" arthritis doesn't have to mean living with the ache. Acupuncture is one of the most-studied uses there is, and for good reason.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. The cartilage that cushions a joint gradually wears down, most often at the knee, hip or hands, and the result is pain, stiffness and less movement than you used to have.
Large clinical studies have found acupuncture effective for osteoarthritis pain, and it's one of the conditions German public health insurers chose to cover. We use it to ease the pain and keep you moving.
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
It works on three levels at once, local, segmental, and central, and we pick the points to match what your joint actually needs.
From first visit to plan
Everyone moves through the same unhurried four steps, and the first visit includes a consultation.
The clinical picture
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, and it's often called "wear-and-tear" arthritis. It happens when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in a joint gradually breaks down, which brings pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. OA can show up in any joint, but the knees, hips, hands, and spine are where we see it most. It usually develops from a mix of factors:
- Age
The likelihood of developing OA increases with age as cartilage naturally degenerates over time.
- Joint Overuse or Injury
Repeated stress on joints from work, sports, or past injuries can accelerate cartilage breakdown.
- Genetics
Family history of OA may predispose individuals to the condition.
- Obesity
Excess weight increases stress on weight-bearing joints, such as the knees and hips, accelerating cartilage damage.
- Joint Misalignment
Poor joint alignment or structural abnormalities can increase wear and tear on cartilage.
- Inflammation and Weak Muscles
Chronic low-grade inflammation and weak surrounding muscles can contribute to joint instability and degeneration.
Symptoms vary from person to person, but the early signs are usually persistent joint pain, especially during or after movement, along with stiffness after you've been sitting still for a while. Depending on how far the condition has progressed, you might also notice any of the following.
- Swelling or tenderness around the joint
- Reduced range of motion
- Grating sensation or cracking sounds when moving the joint
- Bone spurs, which may form around the affected joint
Acupuncture reduces pain and inflammation and improves blood flow to the joints involved. It also nudges the body's own healing along, which helps ease stiffness and discomfort. There's another piece to it as well: because a stiff, painful joint makes the surrounding muscles work harder just to move, those muscles often end up overworked and tired. Acupuncture helps relieve and restore them too. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, acupuncture can help delay the progression and allow the patient to maintain their daily activities.
關 to connect
Read gwan in Korean. It is the first character of 關節, the Korean word for a joint.