Knee Pain and Stiffness Seem to Respond to Acupuncture

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? Anyone with osteoarthritis, the most common arthritis among Americans. Before age 45, it affects men more than women; after 45, more women have it. Age, obesity, overuse and injury are believed to contribute to its development.

CAVEATS Findings were based on the participants' ratings of their pain, which may vary by an individual's perception of tolerable discomfort. Eighty-eight percent of the participants indicated that they believed acupuncture would help their condition, which may have affected their ratings.

FIND THIS STUDY July 9 issue of The Lancet; abstract available online at www.thelancet.com.

LEARN MORE ABOUT osteoarthritis at www.arthritis.org  and www.niams.nih.gov.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.