Content on this website is intended for general information only. For answers
to your specific questions or to schedule treatment, we invite you to
contact us at 301-588-5858.
Acupuncture for Knee Pain
Knee pain may be caused by a range of conditions including injury and arthritis. We provide
acupuncture to assist with
pain-relief, reduction of inflammation, and promotion of healing for many conditions causing knee pain.
Knee Injuries
After an injury, acupuncture can often speed the healing process.
Injuries to the knee area can cause damage to the ligaments, cartilage,
and tendons supporting the knee joints. We provide effective
pain-management for many of these conditions.
Arthritis Conditions
A clinical study of 3,633 patients with
osteoarthritis of the knee showed that acupuncture offered significant benefits for
reduction of knee pain, and overall improvements in quality of life.
1
Quality of life was significantly better among patients who had 15
sessions of acupuncture over 3 months, compared with patients who did
not have acupuncture. Significant quality of life improvements were
observed when patients were evaluated 6 months later.
Arthritis of the knees, ankles, and hips is relatively common.
Osteoarthritis is what we often think of as inflammation from wear and
tear on the joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis
is an auto-immune condition which can affect the joints. Other
auto-immune conditions can also cause pain and swelling in the joints.
Bacterial infections may cause a condition called reactive arthritis.
We
provide specialized acupuncture treatments (and in some cases,
nutritional counselling) which can offer effective relief for
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, and other
types of arthritis. Acupuncture when offered by a skilled professional
can assist in the relief of pain and swelling. Our patients often report
a 20-30% improvement in these symptoms within one or two sessions.
While every case is different, we usually see that the relief lasts
longer and the benefits increase after several sessions.
Post-Surgical Recovery
Dr. Windsor has often assisted patients with recovery following knee
operations including total knee replacement. Sometimes, these types of
operations can be followed by significant swelling which impairs range
of motion and comfort. These swelling issues are treated routinely in
our clinic. In the vast majority of these cases, the swelling resolves
quickly. Improvements often begin within the 24 hours after the first
treatment. Further improvement are typical within several weeks of
treatment.
Pre-Surgical Care
A variety of situations can occur when an individual is preparing for
surgery of the knee. As an acupuncturist, Dr. Windsor has assisted
patients with preparation for these procedures. In these cases his role
is often in the reduction of swelling, or in helping the body to heal
from
complex regional pain syndrome. In other cases, he provides temporary pain relief while the patient is waiting for the scheduled surgical procedure.
Weight-Related Issues
Many knee problems are worsened by excess body weight. This is due to
increased pressure on the inner surfaces of the knee, as well as to the
alterations of muscle surrounding the knee as a result of reduced
physical activity. Dr. Windsor provides compassionate and respectful
care for individuals who suffer from obesity, whether this is related to
emotional eating, hormonal problems, or other problems.
Bursitis Due to Injuries
Bursitis of the knee can happen after an injury such as a minor fall, or
perhaps even just a single awkward step during a basketball game. This
is a condition that Dr. Windsor has treated many times. This condition
tends to respond very quickly to treatment in our clinic. In our
experience, this condition typically improves dramatically after the
first session. In many cases, only two sessions are required before the
patient's comfort and range of motion return to the level before the
injury.
"In my experience, most types of knee pain respond well to acupuncture
treatment. Depending on the cause of the condition, the improvement may
be permanent or temporary. For bursitis, osteoarthritis, post-surgical
swelling, or complex regional pain syndrome, I have seen especially good
results leading to better comfort and quality of life.
Dr. Eric Windsor, D.Ac.