Acupuncture for Knee Pain

Pain Management

Aug 14

How to Get Rid of Knee Pain Fast

A common treatment for knee pain is acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture has gained popularity in Western medicine due to its effectiveness in treating various conditions and its minimal side effects.

In physiological terms, acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, triggering the release of various biochemicals, including endorphins and other neurotransmitters. The release of these chemicals helps to reduce inflammation, decrease pain perception, and improve overall blood circulation.

Dry needling is a specific technique that involves inserting acupuncture needles into trigger points in muscles to relieve pain and improve muscle function.

Studies have shown that acupuncture and dry needling can be effective in treating knee pain caused by a variety of conditions, including osteoarthritis and injuries related to physical activity, like running. These techniques can help reduce inflammation, improve muscle function, and decrease pain perception, making acupuncture a valuable stand alone treatment or as an addition to traditional treatment methods.

Knee pain acupuncture and dry needling can address the root cause of the issue which can help get rid of knee pain in certain cases in as little as 1-5 visits. If there are no structural issues and the cause of pain is a myofascial trigger point, then there is a higher likelihood that the treatment will work more quickly.

What Causes Knee Pain?

About the knee joint

The knee joint is the largest joint in the body and is made up of bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles that work together to provide support and movement. It is a hinge joint that connects the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone) and is also stabilized by the fibula.

The quadriceps, hamstring, adductor, and sartorius muscle groups all connect around the knee from above, while the calf (gastrocnemius & soleus), popliteus, plantaris, and peroneal muscles connect from below around the knee. Tightness in any of these muscles can cause knee pain because tight muscles pull on the joints they attach to and alter their structure which in this case can result in knee pain.

A common example is a tight quadriceps muscle causing runner’s knee which can affect the patella or outer knee. This happens because when the quadriceps muscles tighten or shorten, they bring the knee and hip closer together which pulls on the knee joint and causes discomfort.

There are several ligaments in the knee that can get injured or overused as well. This can be due to an acute injury such as an ACL tear or due to excess strain possibly from muscle imbalance or overuse. One common overuse injury in the knee is a meniscus tear which does not always require surgery to heal.

Common causes of knee pain

Muscle pain

Muscle pain is a common cause of knee pain, which can be caused by tightness or strain in the muscles surrounding the knee. Some common orthopedic knee issues that can cause muscle pain are IT band syndrome, runner's knee, jumper's knee, pes anserine bursitis, and patellar tendonitis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is another common cause of knee pain. It occurs due to wear and tear on the knee’s protective cartilage and causes pain, inflammation, and stiffness of the joint.

Running injuries

Running injuries can cause knee pain and are common among athletes. Overuse injuries such as patellar tendonitis, IT band syndrome, and runner's knee can cause pain and discomfort.

Ligament tears

Ligament tears can also cause knee pain. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) are the most commonly injured ligaments in the knee.

Meniscus tear

A meniscus tear is another common cause of knee pain, which occurs when the cartilage in the knee joint is torn. It can happen due to an acute injury or due to excess strain on the knee joint.

Can Acupuncture Help Knee Pain?

Acupuncture and dry needling can help relieve knee pain by targeting the muscles and trigger points that are causing the pain. By inserting fine needles into specific points in the affected muscles and tissues, acupuncture and dry needling can stimulate the body's natural healing response, reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and promote muscle relaxation.

Moreover, studies have shown that acupuncture and dry needling can effectively reduce knee pain and improve physical function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis and running injuries. The treatment is safe, minimally invasive, and can be used as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatments.

Several randomized controlled trials have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture and dry needling for knee pain. One review of 10 such trials found that acupuncture can help reduce knee pain and improve physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The review also noted that in some cases, acupuncture was found to be more effective than prescribed pain medication.

Another study compared the effectiveness of acupuncture and dry needling for patellofemoral pain syndrome, which is a common knee problem among runners. The study found that both acupuncture and dry needling were effective in reducing pain and improving knee function.

Acupuncture and dry needling work by stimulating specific points on the body, which can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing. When needles are inserted into these points, it can cause a release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers. Acupuncture and dry needling can also help to increase blood flow and loosen tight muscles, which can reduce pain and improve mobility.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Knee Pain

Reduction of Inflammation: Acupuncture and dry needling can help to reduce inflammation in the knee joint, which can help to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Release of Pain-Relieving Endorphins: The release of endorphins can help to reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.
Promotion of Blood Circulation: Acupuncture and dry needling can help to improve blood flow to the knee joint, which can aid in the healing process.
Loosening of Tight Muscles: Tight muscles around the knee joint can cause pain and limit mobility. Acupuncture and dry needling can help to loosen these muscles and release trigger points, which can reduce pain and improve mobility.

Knee Pain Trigger Points

Trigger points are areas of hyperirritability in muscles that can cause pain and other symptoms in different areas of the body. Trigger points can develop due to a variety of factors, including muscle overuse, injury, or stress.

Knee Pain Location Chart

This knee pain location chart summarizes common causes of knee pain from trigger points and their referral patterns.

Anterior Knee Pain: Trigger points in the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, adductor brevis & longus muscles can cause pain in the front of the knee.
Lateral Knee Pain: Trigger points in the vastus lateralis and tensor fasciae latae muscles can cause pain on the outside of the knee.
Medial Knee Pain: Trigger points in the vastus medialis, graclilis, rectus femoris, sartorius, adductor brevis & longus muscles can cause pain on the inside of the knee.
Posterior Knee Pain: Trigger points in the gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, popliteus, semitendinosus & semimembranosus, soleus muscles can cause pain in the back of the knee.
Buckling Knee: A trigger point in the vastus medialis muscle can cause the knee to buckle or give out.

Acupuncture and dry needling can be used to release trigger points and alleviate pain. By inserting needles into the affected muscles, acupuncture and dry needling can help to reduce tension and promote relaxation in the muscles. This can help to release trigger points and reduce pain.

When it comes to knee pain, both traditional acupuncture and dry needling can be effective treatments. Traditional acupuncture targets specific acupuncture points that correspond to the knee joint, which can help to reduce inflammation, release pain-relieving endorphins, promote blood circulation, and loosen tight muscles. Dry needling directly targets trigger points in the muscles surrounding the knee joint, which can help to alleviate pain and improve joint function.

In conclusion, acupuncture and dry needling are effective treatments for knee pain. It is important to seek out a qualified practitioner who can provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. If you are experiencing knee pain, consider scheduling an appointment for acupuncture or dry needling treatment to help alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

At Morningside Acupuncture, we specialize in combining traditional acupuncture with dry needling, so you get a more holistic and effective treatment for your knee pain.

Over to you

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Sources:

Travell, J. G., Simons, D. G. (1993). Myofascial pain and dysfunction: The trigger point manual (Vol. 2). London: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Biel, A., & Dorn, R. (2010). Trail guide to the body: A hands-on guide to locating muscles, bones and more. Boulder, CO: Books of Dicovery.
Selfe, T. K., & Taylor, A. G. (2008). Acupuncture and osteoarthritis of the knee: a review of randomized, controlled trials. Family & community health, 31(3), 247–254. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.FCH.0000324482.78577.0f
Ma, Y. T., Li, L. H., Han, Q., Wang, X. L., Jia, P. Y., Huang, Q. M., & Zheng, Y. J. (2020). Effects of Trigger Point Dry Needling on Neuromuscular Performance and Pain of Individuals Affected by Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of pain research, 13, 1677–1686. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S240376

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