Acupuncture for Low Back Pain
Low Back Pain is Common
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons that people come in for an acupuncture or dry needling treatment. Acupuncture and dry needling help address both the acute pain symptoms as well as the underlying issues associated with back pain.
Back pain has many causes, and we usually start by assessing any structural imbalances that could be contributing to the back pain by palpating associated muscles and releasing trigger points and tight tender points that are causing the back pain.
We may incorporate other things like electroacupuncture, heat lamp therapy, herbal liniments, and cupping in low back pain treatments as needed. Most patients see a significant improvement in their pain levels and mobility in 3-5 treatments, while some will see an improvement after the first treatment.
Causes of Low Back Pain
Poor posture
Weak muscles (back, abdominal, gluteal)
Muscle tightness & trigger points
Excessive sitting
Excessive twisting, bending, or extension of the back
Disc problems
Scoliosis and other structural conditions
Acute trauma
Common Trigger Points for Low Back Pain
Acupuncture helps to release trigger points in muscles that can cause low back pain (on a case-by-case basis).
These are the most common low back trigger points include:
Lumbar stabilizing muscle, hikes up the hip, laterally flexes back, and extends spine
Pain will refer to SI joint, lateral hip, buttock, and possibly anterior thigh
Abducts hip and internally rotates femur
Referred pain in low back, sacrum, lateral hip, or buttock
Paraspinal muscles (iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis, multifidi)
Extend back and help with sidebending
Pain referral into low back, posterior hip, SI joint
Flex hip and extend spine
This muscle is accessed from the front of the body, but pain may refer to the lower back, sacrum, and anterior thigh
Rectus Abdominus
Flexes and rotates spine
While this muscle is on the front of the body, trigger points can refer to the mid or lower back.
Acupuncture for Low Back Pain Research
2022 Studies:
The study showed that acupuncture and stretching exercises are effective for treating low back pain and improved symptoms for patients in the first two weeks.
Acupuncture for low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy
The review found that acupuncture was effective for treating lower back pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy. There was significant improvement in pain and quality of life during pregnancy and no significant adverse affect on newborns.
Integrative Health Strategies to Manage Chronic Pain
Studies support the use of acupuncture for chronic pain syndromes including low back pain.
Over to you
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Sources:
Travell, J. G., & Simons, D. G. (1999). Travell & Simons' myofascial pain and dysfunction: The trigger point manual (Vols. 1 & 2). Baltimore, MD: Williams & Watkins.
Büyükşireci DE, Demirsoy N, Mit S, Geçioğlu E, Onurlu İ, Günendi Z. Comparison of the Effects of Myofascial Meridian Stretching Exercises and Acupuncture in Patients with Low Back Pain. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2022 Dec 31;15(6):347-355. doi: 10.51507/j.jams.2022.15.6.347. PMID: 36537117.
Yang J, Wang Y, Xu J, Ou Z, Yue T, Mao Z, Lin Y, Wang T, Shen Z, Dong W. Acupuncture for low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2022 Nov 21;12(12):e056878. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056878. PMID: 36410790; PMCID: PMC9723856.
Fogleman C, McKenna K. Integrative Health Strategies to Manage Chronic Pain. Prim Care. 2022 Sep;49(3):469-483. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2022.01.001. Epub 2022 Aug 27. PMID: 36153087.
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