Category Archives: Acupuncture/ pressure

Acupuncture/ pressure, Chinese Medicine, Osteoarthritis, Pain, Physiotherapy

Acupuncture: Does it matter where the needles go?

More than 1000 patients with chronic pain for at least 6 months due to osteoarthritis of the knee received up to 6 physiotherapy sessions and as-needed anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, they were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) or sham acupuncture from experienced acupuncture therapists, or 10 physician visits within 6 weeks.

The inclusion of acupuncture led to greater improvement in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores and physical functioning at 26 weeks.

But here is the point. (Sorry, I couldn’t help my self.) There was no significant difference in improvement between TCA and sham acupuncture. The researchers concluded that one explanation for the lack of any observed differences could be the physiologic effect of needling regardless of whether it is done according to TCA principles. Further analysis is provided here.

7/11/06 23:03 JR

Acupuncture/ pressure, CAM Politics, Chinese Medicine, Meditation

Chinese medicine gaining credibility in the U.S.

The San Francisco Chronicle published an article last week on the integration of Chinese medicine (eg, acupuncture, tai chi chuan, meditation and others) into Western healthcare institutions. The American Hospital Association states that 20% of the nation’s hospitals offered complementary medical services in 2004 ? more than double the number in 1998. Continue reading Chinese medicine gaining credibility in the U.S. →

Acupuncture/ pressure, Pain

Acupuncture as effective long-term pain control

A 2003 technology assessment by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concluded, “The currently available evidence is insufficient to determine whether acupuncture has a specific beneficial effect in osteoarthritis.”

Since then, two studies reported benefits with acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In the first study, 570 patients were treated for 26 weeks. Those treated with true acupuncture experienced significantly greater improvement as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and function scores at 8 weeks and 26 weeks vs. those treated with sham acupuncture.

In the second study, 294 patients were assigned to 8 weeks of acupuncture, minimal acupuncture (superficial needling at non-acupuncture points), or an education control group. Pain and joint function measured by WOMAC improved significantly with acupuncture vs. the other treatments at the end of 8 weeks. However, the benefits decreased over time, with no difference between groups at 52 weeks.

Thus, the quandary. Chronic acupuncture treatments are expensive. How do we maintain the benefit of acupuncture over the long term? Is it possible that acupuncture can be self-administered successfully? The results of a retrospective audit of 52 patients who had a positive response to acupuncture previously found that 8 out of 10 patients continued to have pain reduction with self-acupuncture. Quality of life was also improved, and no serious adverse effects were reported.

The investigators concluded that self-acupuncture has considerable potential to reduce clinic waiting lists and appointment times for patients.

One would anticipate cost savings as well.

7/3/06 22:22 JR

Acupuncture/ pressure, Chinese Medicine

Looking or a qualified CAM practitioner?

Try the The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) online directory, which lists practitioners who meet national requirements for board certification in one or more practice areas such as oriental medicine, acupuncture, Chinese herbology, or Asian bodywork therapy. These practitioners have met all requirements for NCCAOM certification in the specific program area.

It’s a start.

6/20/06 21:00 JR