Morningside Acupuncture NYC

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Acupuncture for Low Back Pain</a>

Theodore Levarda

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:

  • Quadratus Lumborum

    • 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

  • Gluteus Medius

    • 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

  • Psoas & Iliacus

    • 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:

Comparison of the Effects of Myofascial Meridian Stretching Exercises and Acupuncture in Patients with Low Back Pain

  • 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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