Study finds acupuncture does not improve chronic knee pain

Researchers from the University of Melbourne randomly assigned 282 patients with chronic knee pain to needle acupuncture, laser acupuncture, no acupuncture or sham (inactive) laser treatment administered by General Practitioners.

Treatments were delivered for 12 weeks with participants and acupuncturists blinded to whether laser or sham laser acupuncture was administered.

Researcher Professor Kim Bennell from the Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine (CHESM) said there were no significant differences in measures of knee pain and physical function-between active and sham acupuncture at 12 weeks or at one year.