Acupuncture has been used in China for 5000 years to relieve pain and treat a variety of chronic, acute, and degenerative conditions. It remains the standard treatment of osteoarthritis in most Asian countries.

Acupuncture is gaining in popularity among Americans too. Over one million people use acupuncture in the United States each year. Studies are showing it is effective as an alternative form of treatment.

Acupuncture doesn't work for everyone. Best results are seen when it's used early in the course of knee arthritis. Patients report less pain and more mobility. For some patients acupuncture decreases the pain enough to help them reduce their dependency on pain-killers.