Acupressure with isometric exercise seems to reduce symptoms of knee osteoarthritis

A combination of isometric exercise and acupressure improves pain, stiffness and physical function in women with knee osteoarthritis, says research in the Journal of Advanced Research.

Isometric exercise is strength training carried out in static positions, in which the joint angle and muscle length do not change during contraction. Acupressure is when manual pressure is used to stimulate specific points on the body along what are considered to be lines of energy.

A team assessed the effectiveness of acupressure versus isometric exercise on pain, stiffness, and physical function in 90 women with knee osteoarthritis. They were split into groups: isometric exercise, acupressure and control.

The volunteers had high initial scores of pain, stiffness and impaired physical functioning. But after the intervention pain decreased in women who did isometric exercise or had acupressure compared to the control group. And the scores of stiffness and impaired physical function were lower in the isometric group compared to the other two groups.

“Isometric exercise and acupressure provide an improvement of pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis,” the researchers explain. “Since isometric exercise leads to more improvement of stiffness and physical function, while acupressure acts better on pain, a combination of both is recommended.”

For more in-depth features, interviews and information, subscribe to Arthritis Digest magazine, a popular title that’s published six times a year. Click here for the digital version or tel 0845 643 8470 to order your had copy. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products.