Is Acupuncture Good for Back Pain?

Lower back pain is one of the most common types of pain experienced by men and women. This chronic pain occurs as a result of nerve, muscle, ligament, or spine injuries. Usually, doctors suggest taking a painkiller, massaging the back, applying a pain relief cream, etc. While all these methods are effective, they only relieve the pain for a short time. Therefore, doctors are now turning towards alternative treatments for lower back pain. Nowadays, one of the most commonly recommended treatments is acupuncture for back pain. This ancient technique has proved excellent results in managing back pain, among other conditions.

Is acupuncture good for back pain? If you are wondering, please continue reading below to learn more about the benefits of acupuncture for back pain.

What causes lower back pain?

The lower back experiences the most strain due to its weight-bearing function. It is also involved in bending, twisting, turning, etc. Due to such activities, our lower backs are susceptible to muscle strain. When the muscle fibers become over-stretched or get torn, it leads to strain, which causes inflammation and pain. Moreover, it can also cause muscle cramps and spasms, leading to reduced functionality and motion.

Usually, we suffer from lower back pain when we engage in physically strenuous activities, like lifting heavy stuff. Luckily, we can have several effective treatments, like acupuncture for back pain.

Acupuncture for Back Pain

Acupuncture is an ancient traditional Chinese physical therapy dating back to at least 100 BC. The Chinese people have been benefiting from this remarkable therapy for ages, but now it has made its way into the rest of the world, too. It is a popular therapy in alternative medicine, especially as a pain relief treatment.

Acupuncture treatment for back pain is one of the most sought-after treatments because it has shown exceptional results for numerous patients. However, most acupuncturists believe patients still consider it a last resort when conventional medicine fails to achieve the desired results. According to them, patients should make it their first choice instead of bearing the pain for so long.

Nowadays, extensive research is being conducted all around the world on acupuncture for back pain treatment. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) believes that acupuncture can help ease chronic lower back pain, osteoarthritis pain, knee pain, and neck pain. Besides, acupuncture can treat conditions like sprain, insomnia, tinnitus tension, headaches, and migraines.

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese physical therapy that is based on the concept of body energetics. According to the conventional concept, there are several acupuncture work points in the body that help the life energy, known as qi, flow through the body. These points are known as acupoints, and they help restore the balance of the body’s energy.

Acupuncture for lower back pain also works by targeting different energy points to let the energy flow smoothly. An acupuncturist inserts needles as thin as hair into various pressure points in the lower back during the procedure. These needles are extremely thin and inserted with great strategy, so they do not cause any harm or pain.

When these needles are inserted, they target different acupoints, which stimulates the energy flow. Moreover, it stimulates the nervous system to release endorphins and other neurochemicals into the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. As a result, the patient feels relief from the lower back pain.

Acupuncture Points for Lower Back Pain

There are various acupoints in the entire body. However, there are five acupoints for treating lower back pain, including:

• Stomach points
• Lower back points
• Hipbone points
• Knee back points
• Hand points

When expert acupuncturist targets these points, they stimulate the nervous system to relieve pain. They do so by unblocking the pathway of the body’s energy to let it flow seamlessly through the body’s systems.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Chronic Back Pain

If you want to get acupuncture, you should be aware of what it can do for you. There are a number of benefits of acupuncture for back pain, among other body parts.

Some benefits of acupuncture for lower back pain are discussed below:

Reduces Lower Back Pain Intensity

Acupuncture has shown excellent results in reducing back pain. An acupuncturist inserts hair-like needles into the skin at specific points. As a result, it stimulates the nervous system, which sends signals to the body to release endorphins, causing pain relief. Some practitioners combine acupuncture with conventional medication to maximize the results.

Relieves Stress

Sometimes stress can be the underlying reason for lower back pain. When we get stressed, it can cause strain and tension in the back. It can also cause changes in the breathing pattern of the individual. Acupuncture can help relieve stress and feel relaxed. As a result, the patient feels comfortable and calm, which reduces their pain.

Improves Sleep

Usually, someone suffering from lower back pain finds it challenging to sleep comfortably. As a result, they become sleep-deprived, which can make their condition even worse. Luckily, acupuncture has been proven to improve sleeping problems along with relieving lower back pain. So, individuals undergoing acupuncture can benefit from both at the same time and improve their quality of life.

Reduces the Need for Surgery

Acupuncture for chronic back pain can help eliminate the need for surgery. It improves the patient’s lower back pain caused by repetitive stress injuries. Due to this, they feel a lot better with their pain managed or gone altogether. So, they don’t need to undergo surgery.

Conclusion

If we say that acupuncture for back pain is a miracle treatment, it won’t be wrong. For hundreds and thousands of patients, this treatment has proved to be a miracle by helping them get rid of chronic back pain. However, the key to successful acupuncture treatment is an expert acupuncturist. Candidates should research their local facilities offering this treatment and then choose according to their ratings and testimonials. So, make sure you take the services of an expert acupuncturist for alleviating your lower back pain and not be scammed by any back-alley amateur practitioner.