Benefits of Acupuncture Treatment for Arthritis
Acupuncture is one of the world’s oldest medical practices. It has origins dating all the way back 2,000 years in China. This procedure brings many benefits to the body. The most common are reducing headaches, and even easing chemotherapy recovery.
Another wonderful benefit it provides to patients is relief of pain and inflammation in arthritic joints. Arthritis sufferers everywhere can find relief for their condition through the magic of acupuncture. But just how does the procedure improve the lives of those with this condition? Let’s take a closer look.
The Basis of Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine is based upon the belief that we all have an essential life force called qi (pronounced like “chee”). Qi runs in our body through meridians. These meridians, much like rivers, provide a path for the chi to run through. Obstructions in these meridians will interfere, known as bi. Bi blocks the flow of qi, which then creates disease and pain. Acupuncture restores the natural flow of the body’s qi by removing obstructions.
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture
Acupuncture effectively controls pain and soreness in three different ways. First, the small punctures cause the body to create endorphins. This is a natural body chemical that mitigates your perception of pain. The second way is that is blocks pain signals from transmitting to your brain through the nervous system. The last way acupuncture treats the body is by deactivating trigger points in the muscles. All together, these three methods result in widespread mind and body relaxation.
Acupuncture and Arthritis
Arthritis causes inflammation and pain in the joints of sufferers. It’s a combination of over 100 separate conditions all together that create the results of arthritis. Nobody can completely avoid this condition because it occurs as a natural product of aging. However, acupuncture can lessen the pain and discomfort from arthritis.
During the treatment, the specialist will locate the treatment points throughout the body. It begins by placing tiny needles in certain spots along the legs, toes, arms, and shoulders of the patient. These needles are so small that several of them could fit within one human hair. These small needles are left in the trigger points for a certain amount of time and then are taken out one by one. Most patients find the procedure to be extremely relaxing, with many people actually falling asleep during it.
Scientific research about acupuncture and arthritis treatment is positive. Studies have shown that around 40% of those who use acupuncture along with other traditional therapy had improved function of joints and reduction in pain.
It’s also shown to be particularly effective in helping those with osteoarthritis of the knee. In one study at the University of Maryland, researchers compared the progress of three groups: those who received acupuncture, those who received sham (placebo) acupuncture, and those who received a self-help paint management course. At the end of a 26-week trial, those who received actual acupuncture had both a pain reduction and mobility improvement of 40%.
Ready to Relieve Your Arthritis Pain Through Acupuncture?
As acupuncture grows in popularity, more people are seeing for themselves the drastic difference the procedure can make in managing their arthritis pain.
If you’re in Arvada Colorado and ready to say goodbye to pain, call us today!
