Acupuncture is widely accepted as an effective form of therapy for pain. In fact, it is so popular that many healthcare professionals refer patients to Acupuncture Physicians to treat both chronic and acute pain.
One study was conducted by sending a questionnaire to 732 members of the International Association for the Study of Pain. They were asked about 22 different treatments that did not involve pharmaceutical drugs. The treatments listed included acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, counseling, exercise and more.
The members were asked if they believed in the efficacy of acupuncture; 84% felt that it was a “legitimate medical practice.” Participants were also asked if they utilized the therapy or referred patients to someone who was a qualified practitioner of acupuncture. An astounding 69% of them responded favorably; making acupuncture the forth most referred to practice on the list.
Another study found that MD’s refer to Acupuncture Physicians more than any other type of alternative medicine. Over half of those questioned acknowledged acupuncture to be effective in treating a wide variety of medical conditions, including pain.
Many studies have been conducted to test how effective acupuncture is in treating pain. Some of these studies are highlighted below.
1. In 1999 a study was published addressing acupuncture and patellofemoral pain syndrome (a common cause of knee pain). A total of 70 patients were split into two groups, one group received acupuncture based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. The other group received “sham acupuncture.” Patients were evaluated using the Cincinnati Knee Rating System (CRS). The scale is 1-100, and higher numbers indicate fewer signs of injury and pain.
Patients received a series of treatments, and were evaluated at 6 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months. Even as far out as the 12 month evaluation the scores showed significant differences. Scores for “symptoms” indicated the control group improved an average of 3.7 points, and the acupuncture group improved an average of 10.3 points. When scoring “function” the control group improved an average of 1.9 points compared to the acupuncture group improving 6.8points. Pain scores were just as significant with control group improving 1.9 points, and the acupuncture group improving a full 6 points.
2. A study done in Heidelberg, Germany explored the efficacy of acupuncture in shoulder pain. 52 athletes were split into two groups. Each group received two treatments a week for four weeks. Group one received customized acupuncture treatments; group two received “sham acupuncture.” Patients were evaluated using the modified Constant-Murley score. At the end of the study the control group improved a mere 8.37% compared to the acupuncture group which improved over 19.2%.
3. Commonly, people go to massage therapists for painful conditions. While this is an effective therapy, in many cases Acupuncture can be even more beneficial. A study published in the British Medical Journal was conducted to determine how massage and acupuncture compared in treating pain and increasing range of motion. A total of 177 patients were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture, massage, or a placebo treatment. The results indicated that patients receiving acupuncture noticed a higher reduction in pain and improved an average of 24.22 points. The massage group only improved 7.89 points.
If you or a loved one is suffering from chronic or acute pain, no matter how severe, consider your options. Call Axis Natural Medicine today to discuss what we can do to help reduce your pain and increase your quality of life!