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Acupuncture for Back Pain

Bending down, sitting, lifting, sleeping, and simply living – all these activities can strain the muscles in your back. If you’re experiencing back pain, you’re not alone. Over 80 percent of the population will deal with lower back pain at some point (source). In a few instances, self-care techniques can ease back pain, like practicing good posture or doing strengthening exercises. However, some cases require additional measures, and acupuncture is a great place to start. Keep scrolling to learn more about how you could benefit from acupuncture for back pain.

Female patient undergoing acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture for Back Pain

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine, and it is becoming widely accepted in the modern healthcare system as a type of complementary medicine. It can reduce inflammation and correct hormonal and chemical imbalances. During this treatment, an acupuncturist inserts extremely thin needles about one to three millimeters into the body. Contrary to how the process sounds, many people find acupuncture to be quite relaxing and feel a warm, tingling sensation. Other people feel nothing at all or minimal discomfort.

The exact reason behind why acupuncture works is still unclear. Recent studies suggest that stimulating certain points on the body results in the release of endorphins into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that affect how we experience pain, and they can even trigger the release of hormones that influence the body’s internal regulating system.

Acupuncture and Back Pain

Back pain is distracting and interferes with your day-to-day living. Sometimes it may seem like nothing will be able to relieve your suffering – but don’t feel disheartened. In a recent study, acupuncture was found to be even more effective in reducing back pain than traditional nonsurgical methods including drugs, exercise, and physical therapy.

If you are experiencing upper back pain, your acupuncturist will most likely target points on your head, neck, shoulders, and upper back. For lower back pain, he or she might target points on the back of your knees, feet, lower back, hands, hips, and stomach. Inserting acupuncture needles in these points speeds the relay of electromagnetic signals, which encourages the flow of pain-killing endorphins.

The number of treatments you will need depends on several factors, including the severity and duration of your pain and your overall health. Each session could last anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes. In some cases, your chiropractor or licensed acupuncturist might recommend that you combine your acupuncture treatments with chiropractic care or massage therapy.

Other Benefits of Acupuncture

Acupuncture does much more than just help with back pain. Since it helps restore your body’s balance, it can improve your overall health. For example, clinical research has found that acupuncture can cure or ease certain ailments and disease symptoms like fibromyalgia, stress/a>, depression, allergies, acne vulgaris, infertility, insomnia, Ménière’s disease, obesity, and tobacco dependence (source). Acupuncture can also provide relief from joint pain, nerve pain, migraines, and headaches. However, don’t use acupuncture to postpone seeing a healthcare provider about a serious concern. Instead, include acupuncture in your comprehensive health plan.

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If you are interested in harnessing the healing power of acupuncture for back pain, reach out to Loehr Health Center. We use acupuncture to help treat numerous conditions, including back pain. For many people, acupuncture effectively promotes quick self-healing and long-term well being.

To get started on a treatment plan, give us a call at 417-887-8075 or schedule your appointment today. We’ll discuss your needs and determine whether acupuncture is right for you. We firmly believe that the process of moving toward better health begins with determining your underlying issue. Our professionals provide high-quality health care for you and your family naturally. Experience the Loehr difference today.

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