Ask the doctor: Acupuncture for knee pain
I have had arthritis of the knee for many years, and I prefer not to take medications for the pain. Can acupuncture help?It is difficult to interpret the results of acupuncture studies. Some researchers argue that the equal benefits of sham and real acupuncture suggest that any "hands-on" treatment with a caring health care provider can reduce pain because of the placebo effect. Supporters of acupuncture often attribute a study's lack of positive results to the particular acupuncture technique or treatment regimen used.
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