A recent study from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University found that Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA) effectively reduces osteoarthritic knee pain in people over 50.
A total of 314 participants were randomised into either the Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA) group or the Knee Health Education (KHE) only group (157 each). The intervention included 2 training sessions for the SAA group with a brief KHE session, in which participants practised acupressure twice daily for 12 weeks. The control group (KHE only) received only education about maintaining knee health on the same schedule and duration.
After 12 weeks the participants from the SAA group numerical rating scale pain scores decreased significantly compared to KHE participants who didn’t use the acupressure intervention. The results from the trial found that a short self-administered acupressure training program, accompanied by a brief knee health education session, could effectively alleviate knee pain and improve mobility in adults over 50 with probable knee osteoarthritis.
Acupressure massage provides relief from knee pain by:
Reducing inflammation by stimulating the release of anti-inflammatory substances.
Modulating pain pathways by inhibiting activation of painsensing cells.
It induces muscle relaxation which reduces muscle tension that can lead to pain.
Improves circulation by increasing local blood flow and nutrient supply to the affected area.
From a Western Medicine perspective acupressure likely releases endorphins, relieves tension, and may even release trigger points that are causing local and referred pain in the muscles and soft tissues.
Arthritis affects over 10 million people in the UK, many of whom are looking for alternative options to manage joint pain without resorting to medication. The Randomised Clinical Trial results recommend self-administered acupressure twice daily as an alternative approach to managing osteoarthritic knee pain.
Treatment Protocol Acupressure Points
Zusanli - ST36 | Xuehai - SP10 |
Dubi - ST35 | Yanglingquan - GB34 |
Zusanli - ST36 | He Ding - EX-LE2 |
Yinlingquan - SP9 | Xiyan - EX-LE5 |
Acupressure is easy to learn and apply. YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are good starting points to learn point locations. Once you are confident at locating the points you will equipped with an alternative pain relief option for a self-care toolkit.
Why Did You Use That Point? is a series of Instagram and Facebook posts about common acupuncture points used in the clinic. The posts show acupressure points locations, indications, therapeutic uses and acupressure techniques for self-care.
Reference:
Self-Administered Acupressure for Probable Knee Osteoarthritis in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. A Randomized Clinical Trial
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