Authentic Chinese Acupuncture
How is Back Pain typically treated?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the entire body is connected. Each system within the body is thought to influence specific areas. The back is connected to the kidney system. When the Qi, or energy of the kidneys, becomes blocked or stagnant, it can cause back pain. This energy can be altered due to outside elements such as cold, wind, or heat. It can also be from an injury or repetitive motion. Getting the energy to move freely will help to ease your back pain.
Muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves create the functional makeup of our bodies, including the back. The back contains over forty different muscles that support our spine and help to perform critical functions like breathing. In addition to the muscles, the spinal column has bones that keep us upright and protect the spinal cord. The tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue connect all the muscles to the bones in our bodies. When any portion of this system becomes injured or inflamed, we begin to experience back pain. Since the back connects to our legs, arms, and chest, the pain may radiate throughout the body.
There is a fundamental difference between Western Medicine and TCM. We have seen the two begin to blend over the past few decades as doctors in the United States begin to realize the benefits. Physicians now see acupuncture as a conservative approach to treatment and are referring patients to these practices. The outcomes of studies like the ones below also back up the effectiveness of acupuncture.
Acupuncture in Chronic Low Back Pain – A group of 298 patients was randomly placed into three groups. One group was treated with acupuncture. Another group was treated with superficial needling at non-acupuncture sites. The final group was a control group. At the end of the study, the group treated with acupuncture had the best improvement in their pain scale.
Management of Low Back Pain – As low back pain rates rise; western providers seek alternative treatment options. One study suggests that adding treatments such as acupuncture improves outcomes and lowers the cost burden on our healthcare system.
How does Acupuncture treat Back Pain?
What is Back Pain?
There is a proven positive impact of acupuncture on those suffering from back pain. This treatment option will promote your body to heal naturally without using medications or drastic measures. Locating a trained and experienced practitioner, like those at the EBOM clinic, will help you begin the healing process.
When performing acupuncture, a practitioner will use a series of needles along the meridian lines that promote the flow of Qi. They may also use massage and acupressure to the impacted areas. Getting the Qi to flow freely will allow the structural elements of your back to work at their best performance.
How does TCM view Back Pain?
The posterior chain of the human body (the back of the legs and your spine) is quintessential to almost every move we make. You are using your back if you want to bend down and pick something up or reach above your head to grab an item. Each movement makes you more aware of this anatomy when experiencing back pain.
While prevention is the best way to minimize back pain, there are conservative ways to get relief. People with back pain will rarely require surgical intervention, but it does sometimes occur. Before any discussion about surgery occurs, your provider will likely recommend these conservative approaches.
Medications – When there is inflammation in your back, the pain may radiate throughout your body. Using medicines that decrease inflammation, like an NSAID or Ibuprofen, may relieve the pain. Other medications, like Tylenol, will block your brain from sending out the pain sensation. You may sometimes take a combination of these medications to manage your pain best.
Physical Therapy – Stretching and strengthening your back will go a long way in correcting the current issue and decreasing your risk for future injury. Working directly with a Physical Therapist will give you the best approach to accomplishing this.\
Massage Therapy – Massaging the deep tissue of your spine will cause more blood flow to the area allowing the muscles to heal.
Our backs can become injured in many ways. Two of the most common causes are overuse/strain and arthritis. You may not feel the effects of the back muscles when performing various tasks. However, if you have spent the day lifting heavy items repeatedly without conditioning yourself for this, you may wake up the next day with back pain. If you do this type of work every day, over time, you may begin to experience arthritis changes in your back.
Certain risk factors may make you more susceptible to experiencing back pain. As with many conditions of the body, age plays a big part in your risk. People that are over the age of 30 are at a higher risk. Those that do not exercise or are overweight also have an increased risk of having back pain.
Tips on choosing a TCM provider
What causes Back Pain?
Does Acupuncture work?
How can Acupuncture help those with Back Pain
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