Researchers provided acupuncture treatments for 282 people aged 50+ with chronic knee pain. They randomly assigned patients to either needle, laser, sham laser acupuncture or no treatment at all. After 12 weeks of treatment, needle and sham acupuncture had the same moderate pain improvements compared to no treatment. Hence, believing you’d had the treatment was as effective as receiving the treatment. After 1-year follow up, none of the acupuncture treatments were effective.
PositiveTip: Physical activity and hydrotherapy are better drug-free alternatives for knee pain.