BMJ  2004;329 (20 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7476.0-b

Acupuncture helps treat osteoarthritis

Acupuncture given as a complementary therapy to drug treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee improves the effectiveness of treatment. Vas and colleagues (p 1216) randomised 97 outpatients with osteoarthritis of the knee to acupuncture or placebo. Both groups were also prescribed diclofenac in the same dose but were instructed to reduce the dose if symptoms improved. Those who received acupuncture took significantly less diclofenac and had less stiffness and more physical function in the knee.

Credit: MARK THOMAS/SPL

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Acupuncture as a complementary therapy to the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: randomised controlled trial

Jorge Vas, Camila Méndez, Emilio Perea-Milla, Evelia Vega, María Dolores Panadero, José María León, Miguel Ángel Borge, Olga Gaspar, Francisco Sánchez-Rodríguez, Inmaculada Aguilar, and Rosario Jurado
BMJ 2004 329: 1216. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]