iStock/Thinkstock(MELBOURNE, Australia) — Acupuncture might be useful in treating various ailments, but don’t let anyone stick needles in your knee.
That’s the advice of researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia, who say the medical treatment that originated in ancient China has been shown to have no benefit for those who suffer from moderate to severe knee pain.
In their study, 300 adults received one of the following for chronic knee pain: needle acupuncture, laser acupuncture, and fake laser acupuncture. The control group received no treatment.
Following three months of treatment, all participants with the exception of the control group reported similar relief of knee pain but within a year, the pain had returned in all cases.
Essentially, the sham treatment was just as effective as the two types of real acupuncture but in reality, nothing really worked long-term.
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