Back pain
Back pain is becoming more and more common in our society and there are several reasons why:
Today most people work at a desk and/ or spend a lot of time sitting in cars. At home we sit in soft chairs for hours in front of the television. However, muscles are designed to work. They are designed to contract and relax through a range of movement.
If only a small part of a muscle range of movement is used, then over time muscles shorten and tighten. Stretching muscles will move energy and blood and prevent pain. If we do not use our muscles fully they will tighten up.
What can acupuncture offer in the treatment of back pain?
Acupuncture is very effective at treating back pain. During an acupuncture treatment I massage and palpate to find the most painful areas that are causing the pain, and treat them. I may also treat further along the affected meridian to stimulate the movement of Qi and blood away from the affected area. The results are often immediate. However, don’t expect your back pain to be permanently gone after one treatment. It usually requires a course of treatments in combination with exercise.
Of course, not all back pain is musculoskeletal. There are more serious conditions such as Ankylosing Spondolysis or Fibromyalgia that cause back pain. That said, the vast majority of back pain is musculoskeletal and responds very well to acupuncture. Other conditions may also respond with acupuncture but treatment may be more prolonged.