How Many Acupuncture Treatments Will I Need to Relieve Joint Pain?

If you’re living with joint pain, you know it can make even the simplest tasks uncomfortable and challenging. Joint pain can affect anyone at any age, and your risk increases as you get older. In fact, an estimated 70% of people over age 50 suffer from joint pain.

While there are various treatment options available, it’s not always easy to find a solution that really makes a difference. Adam Redlich, MD, Adam Thompson, DO, and our team at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine are here to help. We specialize in acupuncture, which is a popular and effective alternative therapy for relieving joint pain.

In this blog, we explain how acupuncture helps relieve joint pain and how many treatments you may need to find relief.

How acupuncture works for joint pain

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, these points correspond to pathways called meridians, through which your body's vital energy, known as Qi, flows.

If you develop an imbalance in the flow of Qi, you might experience pain or illness. Acupuncture aims to restore balance and promote your body's natural healing processes.

When it comes to treating joint pain, we place needles in precise locations to stimulate the release of endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving chemicals in your body. Endorphins can help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation in your joints.

Acupuncture can also improve blood circulation, which can increase the supply of nutrients and oxygen in your joints. This, in turn, can promote healing and reduce stiffness. Furthermore, acupuncture focuses on the individual as a whole, and our practitioners take your lifestyle, diet, and emotional well-being into account, too.

What to expect with acupuncture for joint pain

Like any treatment, we develop personalized acupuncture treatment plans for each patient. The number of acupuncture treatments you need will depend on the severity and duration of your pain, your overall health, and your response to acupuncture. Some individuals can experience significant improvement after just a few sessions, while others can require more time to relieve their joint pain.

Acupuncture is not a one-time fix. Instead, it’s a process that allows your body to gradually heal itself and restore balance. That’s why we generally recommend a series of acupuncture sessions for optimal results.

For acute joint pain, such as from a recent injury or flare-up, we may recommend a few sessions spread over a couple of weeks to provide noticeable relief. For chronic or long-standing joint pain, more extensive treatment may be necessary, and we may prescribe weekly or biweekly sessions over the course of several months.

Acupuncture offers a holistic and effective approach to relieving joint pain, and it could be just what you need. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with A+ Athlete Sports Medicine today. We have locations in Neptune and Robbinsville, New Jersey.