Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Frequently Asked Questions
17. What are some examples of NIH-sponsored studies of CAM therapies for arthritis?
A study of acupuncture in people with osteoarthritis of the knee recently found that the therapy can reduce pain and improve ability to function in people with this condition. The study was the largest, lengthiest acupuncture study of its kind.
In a study of the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin in people with pain from osteoarthritis of the knee, the combination did not help the participants as a whole, but it did help a small group of people with moderate-to-severe pain. A follow-up study, showed that the supplements, together or alone, also appeared to fare no better than placebo in slowing the loss of cartilage in knee osteoarthritis.
