Knee osteoarthritis (OA) can make everyday activities—walking, stairs, getting up from a chair or staying active—more uncomfortable. If you are looking for help with knee arthritis pain in Dartmouth, it is important to know that treatment does not have to be an “either/or” choice.
For most people with knee osteoarthritis, education and exercise remain the foundation of conservative care. Strengthening the muscles around the hip and knee, gradually increasing activity and learning how to manage changes in symptoms can all be important parts of improving function over time.
But sometimes pain makes it harder to get started—or harder to keep going.
That is where acupuncture may have a role as an adjunct treatment.
What Is Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis?
Acupuncture involves inserting very fine needles into selected areas of the body. For knee OA, treatment may be used alongside an active rehabilitation program with the goal of helping manage pain and making movement or exercise more tolerable.
In some cases, acupuncture can also be combined with gentle electrical stimulation. This is called electroacupuncture. A small electrical current is passed between selected needles to provide an additional stimulus during treatment.
The key word is adjunct.
At Spring Physiotherapy, we do not view acupuncture as a replacement for strengthening, movement or education. Instead, it may be considered as one tool within a broader plan for managing knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
What Does the Research Say?
Research into acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis has produced mixed results.
A 2024 systematic review and network meta-analysis published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine looked at 80 randomized controlled trials involving 9,933 participants. The authors found that acupuncture may provide clinically important improvements in pain and physical function, and electroacupuncture showed a greater effect on pain than manual acupuncture in their analysis.
That distinction matters. Acupuncture may be helpful for some people, but it should not be considered a guaranteed solution or as a substitute for treatments with stronger evidence.
Exercise remains central to knee OA management, and clinical guidelines consistently support therapeutic exercise as a core treatment.
Putting the Pieces Together
For someone dealing with a sore or stiff arthritic knee, a treatment plan might focus on:
- understanding what is contributing to symptoms
- gradually improving knee and hip strength
- maintaining or rebuilding comfortable movement
- adjusting activity when symptoms flare
- using adjunct treatments, such as acupuncture or electroacupuncture, when appropriate
With chiropractic care joining Spring Physiotherapy, acupuncture with or without electrical stimulation may be another option available as part of a broader approach to knee pain management.
Looking for Help With Knee Osteoarthritis in Dartmouth?
If knee pain is limiting your walking, exercise, stairs or everyday activities, an assessment can help determine which treatment options are appropriate for you.
Spring Physiotherapy on Baker Drive in Dartmouth provides care for people looking to move more comfortably, build strength and stay active.
Book an assessment to talk about your knee pain and whether physiotherapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture or a combination of approaches may fit your needs.
