Knee pain and osteoarthritis are common health problems, especially among the elderly, overweight individuals, or those who heavily use their knees. Symptoms often start with mild pain that worsens when walking, climbing stairs, or sitting for long periods. Acupuncture is a treatment option recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
From a TCM perspective, knee pain results from stagnation of Qi and blood around the knee joint, or invasion of wind, cold, and dampness. Acupuncture helps stimulate the flow of Qi and blood, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain.
Acupuncture points used for knee pain include Dubi (犢鼻), Xiyan (膝眼), Yanglingquan (陽陵泉), and Yinlingquan (陰陵泉). Practitioners select points based on each patient's symptoms and causes. Electroacupuncture may be added for enhanced effectiveness.
Knee pain acupuncture treatment is often combined with cupping to improve blood circulation and moxibustion to expel cold and dampness, especially for those whose knee pain worsens in cold weather or changing conditions.
Most patients begin to feel improvement after 3-5 sessions, with 10-15 sessions recommended depending on symptom severity. Beyond treatment, patients should maintain healthy weight, strengthen leg muscles through exercise, and avoid prolonged squatting or kneeling.