Acupuncture for Knee Pain
Knee pain can make stairs, walking and sleep harder than they should be. In clinical trials involving thousands of people, acupuncture has eased knee osteoarthritis pain and improved movement, with benefits lasting months after a course of treatment. Our practitioners have been treating pain in London for 25 years.
Book an initial consultation or call 0207 935 2030 for a free 15-minute chat.
What causes knee pain?
The most common cause of long-term knee pain in adults is osteoarthritis. The cartilage that cushions the joint thins over time, leading to pain, stiffness and reduced movement. It usually develops gradually and is most common after 45.
Knee pain can also follow a sports injury, a strain, a tendon problem or surgery. If your knee is hot, very swollen, locked, or gave way after an injury, see your GP first. Read more about arthritis and sports injuries.
How acupuncture can help
For knee osteoarthritis, acupuncture can reduce pain and stiffness and make everyday movement easier. It works best as part of a wider plan with strengthening exercise, and many patients find it helps them stay active enough to keep that exercise going.
We also see patients with knee pain from sports injuries, tendon problems and recovery after surgery. Here we use acupuncture as one part of a plan, often alongside physiotherapy, and we’ll tell you honestly if we think another approach would suit you better.
Researchers think acupuncture works partly by changing how nerves and the brain process pain signals, including the release of the body’s own pain-relieving chemicals. The exact mechanisms are still being studied.
What the research shows
- Vickers et al., 2018 (Journal of Pain) — the largest analysis to date, combining raw data from 39 trials and 20,827 patients. Acupuncture outperformed both sham and no acupuncture for osteoarthritis pain, and the effects persisted over time.
- Berman et al., 2004 (Annals of Internal Medicine) — 570 people with knee osteoarthritis. Acupuncture added to usual care improved pain and function more than sham acupuncture or education over 26 weeks.
- Tu et al., 2021 (Arthritis & Rheumatology) — 480 people. Electroacupuncture reduced pain and improved function compared with sham at 8 weeks, and the benefit lasted to 26 weeks.
- Scharf et al., 2006 (Annals of Internal Medicine) — 1,007 people across 315 German practices. Adding acupuncture to physiotherapy and anti-inflammatories nearly doubled the success rate (53% vs 29%), though sham acupuncture did similarly well.
Results vary between people, and acupuncture is not a replacement for medical assessment.
What to expect
Your first appointment lasts an hour. We take a full history, look at any scans or reports you bring, and agree a plan with you. Treatment uses very fine, single-use needles placed around the knee and elsewhere, left in for 15 to 20 minutes. Where suitable, we may use electro-acupuncture, which the Tu 2021 trial found particularly effective for knee osteoarthritis, and a heat lamp to warm the joint.
Most people start with weekly sessions and we review progress together after four to six. Initial consultations start from £80; see clinics and fees for details.
Why The London Acupuncture Clinic
- 25 years treating patients in London
- Degree-qualified practitioners who work alongside GPs and consultants, with close links to physiotherapists and chiropractors
- Open seven days a week, with early-morning and evening appointments
- Receipts for insurance claims on request
What our patients say
“…suffering with very bad arthritic knees which after a few sessions has become less painful enabling me to walk long distances again with more ease.” — S.S., Google review
Can acupuncture help my knee pain?
For knee osteoarthritis, good-quality trials show acupuncture can reduce pain and improve movement, with benefits lasting months. For other knee problems, we’ll assess you and use acupuncture as part of a wider plan where it fits.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people have a course of six to eight weekly sessions, reviewed after the first four. Some then continue with occasional top-up sessions.
Does it hurt?
The needles are about the width of a hair. Most people feel a brief tingle or dull ache as a needle settles, then very little. Many find sessions relaxing.
Can I have acupuncture alongside physiotherapy, injections or before surgery?
Acupuncture fits alongside physiotherapy, medication and steroid injections. If you’re waiting for knee surgery or have had one, tell us your dates and we’ll plan around them.
Related: Back pain · Sciatica · Pain relief · Dry needling
Written by The London Acupuncture Clinic’s practitioner team.
