How To Use An Acupuncture Pen For Knee Pain

One of the more common places to get pain, especially as you grow older, is in the knees. And it’s also one of the more important areas of your body to keep in good condition because your knee is impacted with every step you take.

If I had taken better care of my knee health when I was younger, I might not be in the pain I am in now.

However, after using an acupuncture pen for my knee pain, I seem to have found the perfect solution.

If left untreated, knee pain can be debilitating for day-to-day life. For many, merely taking a painkiller to numb the pain will not be enough. So, what is available?

Luckily, I’m here to tell you that it can, and will, get better.

In this article, we’re going to be talking all about using an acupuncture pen for knee pain and how it can be used to treat various types of knee pain and turn your life around for the better.

How To Use An Acupuncture Pen For Knee Pain

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Acupuncture pens use electrical stimulation rather than acupuncture needles. They send an electrical impulse to a specific area, which works to mimic the process of a traditional acupuncture treatment using acupuncture needles.

The acupuncture pen is placed onto specific acupoints on the body where there are meridians or energy channels. These points correspond to organs and glands throughout the body. They are connected to each other through these channels.

There are several ways to use an acupuncture pen for knee pain. You can use it yourself, or you can ask a professional to apply it for you. If you choose to use it yourself, then you need to know how to use the acupuncture pen correctly.

If you are looking to use an acupuncture pen for knee pain, we would recommend using the acupoints listed below. If you need extra guidance, take a look at this article titled How To Use An Acupuncture Pen.

Benefits Of An Acupuncture Pen For Knee Pain

Acupuncture pens can be used to treat a huge range of ailments and symptoms. From those associated with hormone imbalances to issues that arise after having a stroke (see this article on acupuncture pen for stroke patients for more information), acupuncture pens are incredibly versatile.

They are considered to be especially effective at relieving pain, including chronic pain. In particular, an acupuncture pen can work to significantly decrease discomfort in the knee. In fact, there are many benefits of using acupuncture alongside treatments associated with Western Medicine.

The following are some of the main reasons why it’s such a good option:

  • No bleeding
  • More comfortable than physical therapy treatments
  • Can be used to treat multiple areas of the body
  • Works faster than other alternative treatments
  • No side effects

The use of an acupuncture pen for knee pain is effective in treating knee injuries caused by many different forms, such as:

  • Physical pain caused by an injury
  • Postoperative pain
  • Muscle pain from strain
  • Pain from osteoarthritis
  • Hereditary knee joint issues
  • Chronic knee pain

It is proven that acupuncture pens provide an anti-inflammatory effect on knee injuries and pain without adverse effects. For this reason, more and more people are looking at acupuncture as alternative pain medicine. However, it is important to always check with your health care provider before beginning a new treatment.

Studies Describing The Effectiveness Of Electric Acupuncture On Knee Pain

Acupuncture is an important aspect of Chinese Medicine. However, you might still be wondering, do acupuncture pens work?

Well, if you would like to read up more thoroughly on the use and potential effectiveness of electric acupuncture in treating knee pain, there are several different studies, clinical trials, and systematic reviews that we can refer you to.

This particular research study concluded that 50% of patients who received acupuncture treatment for knee pain saw an improvement after 12 sessions. Similarly, this clinical study concluded that acupuncture was a potentially effective treatment for knee pain.

Interestingly, this article from the University of Harvard argues that acupuncture requires more research attention. Despite it failing one previous study, it is claimed that acupuncture as alternative medicine and treatment for knee arthritis is still worth a try.

As such, even though more clinical studies are required, it is fair to conclude that using an acupuncture pen for knee pain could significantly relieve your pain and better your quality of life.

Acupoints For Knee Pain

There are many different acupoints that you can use to deal with knee pain. If you are looking to use an acupuncture pen for knee pain, we would recommend using the following acupoints:

Acupoint: EM-45 (Other Names: Xi Yan)

It is located on the extensor side of the knee joint, in the depression on both sides of the patellar ligament. There is one pair of acupoints on each knee.

If you suffer from knee osteoarthritis, then acupoint EM-45 should be your first point of call. Stimulating this acupoint will increase blood circulation around the knee area, leading to the relief of knee pain in the area.

Acupoint: SP-10 (Other Names: Spleen-10/Xue Hai/Sea of Blood)

Acupoint SP-10 is a great choice for dealing with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis of the knee area.

To locate this pressure point, flex your knee. The pressure point can be located on the bulge of the medial portion of muscle quadriceps femoris, approximately 2 cun above the patella’s superior medial border.

This acupoint is also one of many effective acupressure points for ovary cysts. 

Acupoint: ST-34 (Other Names: Stomach-34/Liang Qiu/Ridge Mound)

This acupoint is also effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis of the knee. It is also effective in the treatment of leg cramps. You can locate this acupoint approximately three finger-widths above the edge of your kneecap.

To find the acupoint, stand on the ground and stretch the knee. You will see a depression at the bulge of the muscles and that is the acupoint you are looking for.

This acupoint is very versatile. It is also a very effective spot for the treatment of pain in the abdomen. To learn more, take a look at this article on acupressure points for lower abdominal pain.

Acupoint: GB-33 (Other Names: Gallbladder-33/Xi Yang Guan/Knee Yang Gate)

 

The most common knee pain in runners is “iliotibial bandits”, which causes pain on the outside of the knee. GB-33 is a very effective acupressure point for relieving iliotibial bandits.

The sunken spot on the outside of the knee when sitting and bending the knee is GB-33.

This acupoint is very versatile. It is often used alongside other points to alleviate pain and symptoms of other conditions. For instance, it is often used in conjunction with the GB-32 acupuncture point. 

Acupoint: ST-35 (Other Names: Stomach-35/Du Bi/Calf’s Nose)

The other most common knee pain in runners is “pes anserinus”, which causes pain under the inside of the knee. ST-35 is a very effective treatment for pes anserinus.

Dubi is located in the flexion of the knee, in the depression on the lateral side of the patella and patella ligament or 3 cuns above ST-36.

In fact, this acupoint is considered to be particularly useful for all kinds of knee pain, especially when used alongside certain other points. Take a look at this article about acupressure points for knee pain to learn more.

Author: P. Sze

P. Sze P. Sze is the founder of TCM Tips and Dragon Acupuncture®. She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a first-class honor in Civil Engineering. S he also holds a master’s degree in Engineering and is the brain behind the innovative TCM products of Dragon Acupuncture®. She is the author of The Beginner's Guide to Auricular Therapy: Application of Ear Seeds (ISBN 978-1520451398) and Facial Gua Sha - Fight the Signs of Aging Naturally and Inexpensively (ISBN 978-1980678922). She has dedicated her life to ensuring that the complex theories behind oriental medicine and the seemingly dangerous techniques that involve needles and fire do not scare you from trying oriental medicine. This is why she writes endlessly about acupressure and its countless health and wellness benefits.

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