A recent study published in the December 21, 2004, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Has confirmed what Chinese Medicine practitioners have long know. That acupuncture is often useful in treating arthritic problems.
The study covered 570 patients, aged 50 or older with osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants had significant pain in their knee the month before joining the study, but had never experienced acupuncture, had not had knee surgery in the previous six months, and had not used steroid or similar injections.

The study concluded that the acupuncture was effective in easing the pain and in improving the function of the joint. Stephen E. Straus, M.D., NCCAM Director commented that "For the first time, a clinical trial with sufficient rigor, size and duration has shown that acupuncture reduces the pain and functional impairment of osteoarthritis of the knee."