Osteoarthritis is an extremely common condition. In fact, almost everyone with will experience some of the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis by the age of 70. To combat this discomfort, many people take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as a natural alternative to prescription medications. Now, new research published in the British Medical Journal shows that there may be another natural way to relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis by using acupuncture.
According to the study authors, acupuncture could be used as a cost-effective alternative to surgery, which can be extremely expensive. Study participants were given acupuncture once a week for a month, and then a session every six weeks. After one month of treatment, tests showed that patients had significant improvements in stiffness, pain levels and functionality.
Along with the expensive cost, knee surgery requires substantial recovery time that may keep people out of work. This is why acupuncture is such a promising alternative - not only do people have to spend less money on this procedure, they also won't have to take as much time off from the office.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.