Posts

Showing posts with the label back pain

The Thoracolumbar Fascia and its Role in Back Pain: Understanding the Link and Exploring Acupuncture as a Potential Relief

Back pain is a prevalent health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. One crucial but often overlooked component of the back is the thoracolumbar fascia, a deep connective tissue structure situated at the posterior thoracic and abdominal region. This fascia plays a vital role in providing support and stability to the back, and any injury or overuse can result in inflammation, leading to pain and discomfort. In this article, we will explore the significance of the thoracolumbar fascia and its association with back pain. Additionally, we will delve into the potential benefits of acupuncture as a method to alleviate thoracolumbar fascia-related back pain. The thoracolumbar fascia is a robust and dense connective tissue that extends from the lower thoracic spine to the lumbar region and pelvis. It consists of three layers: anterior, middle, and posterior. The anterior layer is the thinnest, while the posterior layer is the thickest, forming the deepest layer of the fascia. This ...

Abdominal acupuncture for pain relief

Image
 

The Healing Touch: Exploring the Benefits of Massage Therapy---Health Solution

Massage therapy, a practice involving the manipulation of the body's soft tissues, has a long and rich history that spans across numerous cultures and civilizations. It has been used for centuries as a means to alleviate pain, promote relaxation, and enhance overall well-being. Today, massage therapy continues to play a significant role in modern healthcare, offering a wide range of techniques and styles tailored to address various health conditions and wellness goals. The Origins and Evolution of Massage Therapy The roots of massage therapy can be traced back to ancient times, where it was practiced in diverse cultures worldwide. From the traditional healing arts of ancient Egypt and China to the therapeutic methods of ancient Greece and Rome, the benefits of massage have been recognized for centuries. Even in the early days, people instinctively turned to touch as a way to provide comfort and relief from physical discomfort. Throughout history, massage therapy underwent refinemen...

Acupuncture: Unlocking the Power to Release Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide, hindering their quality of life and often defying conventional treatments. For those trapped in the grips of relentless discomfort, the search for effective relief can seem like an endless journey. However, amidst this quest, many individuals have turned to an ancient practice that holds the potential to unlock a new path to wellness: acupuncture. This ancient Chinese therapy, known for its ability to stimulate the body's natural healing processes, has gained considerable recognition in recent years for its remarkable capacity to release chronic pain. While the practice of acupuncture has long been intertwined with ancient Chinese beliefs, its effectiveness in managing chronic pain has not gone unnoticed by modern scientific inquiry. Numerous studies have sought to unravel the mysteries behind acupuncture's pain-relieving prowess, and the results have been encouraging. Researchers have discovered that acupuncture can stimulate ...

Relieving Tailbone Pain through Acupuncture

Tailbone pain, also known as coccydynia, can be a distressing and debilitating condition that affects individuals of all ages. The tailbone, or coccyx, is a small triangular bone at the base of the spine, and when injured or inflamed, it can lead to persistent discomfort and hinder daily activities. Tailbone pain can arise from various causes, including injury, prolonged sitting, or even childbirth. Conventional treatments may provide relief, but some individuals seek alternative therapies like acupuncture to address their discomfort more effectively and without the side effects associated with medications. How Acupuncture Works for Tailbone Pain Pain Relief: Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. By activating these neurotransmitters, acupuncture can help reduce the perception of pain and enhance the overall sense of well-being. Reducing Inflammation: Acupuncture has been found to possess anti-inflammatory properties, which can aid in red...

Exploring Acupuncture as a Promising Solution for Groin Pain

Groin pain is a common complaint that affects individuals of all ages and backgrounds. It can range from a mild discomfort to severe, debilitating pain, making everyday activities challenging. While there can be various causes of groin pain, including muscle strains, hernias, and reproductive organ issues, seeking effective relief is paramount for those experiencing this discomfort. In recent years, acupuncture has gained recognition as a potential solution for managing groin pain, offering a holistic and non-invasive approach to alleviate symptoms and promote overall well-being. In this article, we will investigate the benefits of acupuncture and its application in addressing pain in the groin area. Understanding Groin Pain: The groin area, located between the lower abdomen and inner thigh, is home to numerous muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When these structures are strained, injured, or affected by inflammation, it can lead to groin pain. This discomfort may be caused by sports-rel...

Abdominal acupuncture for pain relief workshop on Sunday the 2nd July in Richmond London

Image
 

How doe acupuncture release pain? research updates.

Mast cells are a crucial type of immune cells in the human body that play a significant role in the progression of numerous diseases. They serve as regulators of protective host immunity. Acupuncture, on the other hand, has been proven to be an effective analgesic therapy. Acupuncture points, also known as acupoints, are characterized by a high concentration of subcutaneous mast cells (MCs), and their activation has been found to play a crucial role in the initiation of the analgesic effect. Recent studies have revealed that subcutaneous mast cells are involved in the mechanism of analgesia induced by acupuncture. The high density of skin mast cells in acupuncture points makes them highly sensitive to mechanical stimulation. The accumulation of mast cells and the dense arrangement of collagen fibers, microvessels, and nerves form the basis for acupoints as the reaction sites of acupuncture. During acupuncture manipulation, the activation of the mast cells occurs via the collagen networ...

Having pain and not tried acupuncture yet? Here is what you need to know about acupuncture. Acupuncture is becoming mainstay treatment of pain release.

Pain is an inevitable part of life that can have a significant impact on one's quality of life. The experience of pain involves the transformation of pain stimulus into a nerve signal that is sent to the brain. The pain sensation and pain response are produced by integrating and processing this information in the brain. Several neurotransmitters, such as opioid peptides, γ-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and glutamate, are involved in pain modulation. While painkillers can be effective in managing pain, they also have potential side effects such as addiction, drowsiness, and damage to brain function. Consequently, many people are turning to alternative therapies such as acupuncture, which is known for its few side effects. Acupuncture has gained popularity as a method of pain management around the world. Originally from China, acupuncture has been shown to have positive analgesic effects in many studies. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated that the ne...

You Might Be Overlooking the Role of Fascia in Your Pain and Stiffness; Acupuncture Treatment for Fascial Pain: A Holistic Approach.

You Might Be Overlooking the Role of Fascia in Your Pain and Stiffness When we experience pain or stiffness in our bodies, we tend to attribute it to tired muscles or stiff joints. However, there is a part of our body that we often overlook in this context: the fascia. The fascia is a network of thin connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, bone, muscle, blood vessel, and nerve fiber in place. Despite its crucial role in our body's movement and structure, fascia received very little attention until recently. One of the fascinating aspects of the fascia is that it has nerves, making it almost as sensitive as skin. When it is stressed, it tightens up. Although fascia appears to be one sheet of tissue, it is actually made up of multiple layers with liquid in between called hyaluronan. It is designed to stretch as we move. However, certain factors can cause fascia to thicken and become sticky, which can limit our mobility and cause painful knots to develop. Factors that ...

Acupuncture is effective for fibromyalgia.

Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for fibromyalgia, which is a condition characterized by chronic pain, muscle stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach pain, bloating, low mood, poor concentration, and memory problems. Although fibromyalgia can affect people of different ages, it is most commonly found in middle-aged women, and treating this condition can be challenging. Acupuncture is a treatment method that has been used to address various medical conditions, particularly chronic pain. Research indicates that acupuncture's analgesic effect on the central nervous system, achieved by stimulating nerve fibers and producing an activation in the cascade of pain-modulating endorphins, serotonin, and noradrenaline, may contribute to its effectiveness in treating fibromyalgia. For example, a recent research paper summarized 20 studies, including a total of 1497 participants, with most of them being women, that inves...

Chronic pain, acupuncture and connective tissue

Image
  Dr. Helene Langevin, Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital was talking about chronic pain and acupuncture and connective tissue. This helps you to understand how acupuncture works. 

Pain relief with acupuncture

Image
 

Which acupuncture points used for your slipped disk?

A slipped disc is a condition in which the disc in the spine is torn and the central part inside comes out. It causes chronic back pain. The pain often begins in the lower back and over time it spreads to other parts of the body. Sometime there is no symptom. This is because the slipped part of the disc is small which will not affect nerves or spinal cord. If sciatic nerve is affected the pain could travel from the low back, through the buttocks and down the legs to the feet as stated above. Acupuncture does not make slipped the disk go back but acupuncture treatment can help to release the pain and other symptoms. Which acupuncture points are most used to treat slipped discs? A study analysed data from recent 10 years. They found 49 main acupuncture points from 173 studies. there were 10 most common used acupoints on Bladder Meridian [Geshu (BL 17), Xiaochangshu (BL 27), Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Weizbong (BL 40), Zhibian (BL 54), ...

Which acupuncture points are used for your back pain?

Why acupuncture is effective for low back pain? There are several mechanisms that explained the effectiveness of acupuncture on pain relief. Acupuncture stimulates nerve endings located in muscles and other tissues leading to production of endorphins and other neurohormonal factors. Acupuncture reduces inflammation by releasing vascular and immunomodulatory factors. Acupuncture increases local blood circulation and improves muscle stiffness, joint mobility and swelling. Standardization of acupuncture points for low back pain Acupuncture treatment for specific patients with chronic low back pain vary widely across practitioners. If you go and see a few different acupuncturists, you would get acupuncture at different points. There are no standardized acupuncture points for any conditions. A study has shown that twenty diagnoses and 65 acupoints were used at least once; and only one point UB23 was used for every patient by most acupuncturists. In China standardization of acupuncture point...

Which muscles are involved in low back pain?

The Gluteal muscles The gluteal muscles are a group of three muscles making up the buttocks: the glutes maximus, gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus. They originate from the back of the pelvic bone ilium and sacrum and end on the thigh (femur). The largest and the most superficial of the three gluteal muscles is the gluteus maximus. It makes up a large portion of the shape and appearance of the hips. The functions of the muscles are extension, abduction, external and internal rotation of the hip joint. Gluteus maximus starts from the posterior gluteal line of the inner upper ilium crest, the posterior surface of the lower part of the sacrum and the side of the coccyx, aponeurosis of the erector spinae, sacrotuberous ligament and the fascia covering the gluteus medius. The gluteal maximus go downward and lateralward and insert into iliotibial band and glutealtuberosity. It extends and laterally rotates the hip and extends the trunk. Gluteus maximus injury is a common source of the l...

Which neck muscles get involved in neck-shoulder pain?

Muscles at the neck The neck is the centre of muscle network of the upper body. The cervical spine and the muscles and ligaments are at the back of the neck. The cervical spine is made up of seven vertebraes between which is a disc. Spinal cord is within the spine and protected by the spine. Nerves come out from the cervical spine and innervated the neck and arms. There are many muscles connect the neck to the head, shoulders and the back. Trapezius muscle Trapezius is a large triangular muscle superficially located at the neck and upper back. It connects the neck to the head and shoulders and upper back and middle back. Apart from trapezius there are many muscles connecting the neck to the head and shoulders. Muscles connect the neck to the head. As mentioned above some muscles connect the neck to the head contributing to the head and neck movement. They are Semispinalis captisis which is deep to the trapezius muscle is originated from the four to seven cervical vertebraes and the upp...

Which muscles are involved in upper back pain?

Trapezius muscle Trapezius is a superficial broad triangular muscle at neck and upper back, one of the largest superficial muscles at the upper back. It attaches to the base of the skull and extends down to the neck, the upper back until mid back; laterally it inserts to the shoulder blades. There are three functional regions to the muscle: the Upper, middle, and lower trapezius, and each region has its own function: upper region moves the shoulder blades and support the arms; the middle region retracts the shoulder blades and the lower region rotates and depresses the shoulder blades. Rhomboid major and minor muscles Below Levator scapulae muscle are Rhoboids including rhomboids minor and rhomboids major. Rhomboid minor and Rhomboids major are muscles on the back connecting the shoulder blade with the spinal column. Rhomboids major is just below the rhomboid minor. They are deeper to the trapezius starting from spinal column C7 to T5 and inserting to the medial border of the shoulder ...

Which muscles are related shoulder pain?

Muscles surrounding the shoulder joint Trapezius muscle Trapezius muscle attaches to the base of the skull and extends down until mid back and laterally it inserts to the shoulder blades. It is involved in the shoulder blades movement Pain caused by middle and lower part of the trapezius can present burning pain or aching on the top of the shoulder. Also pain caused by the lower part of the muscle can present upper shoulder pain; pain at the back of the shoulder blade which could radiate to the inside of the arm to the ring and little fingers. Latissimus dorsi Latissimus dorsi is the largest flat muscle in the back. It originates from the inferior thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, iliac crest, and the four most inferior ribs, runs laterally up through the back, inferior part of shoulder blades and inserts to the upper front of the humerus. This muscle plays a role in shoulder joint movement such as adducting the arms, extending the shoulders and rotating shoulder joints medially. ...

Why can you feel the pain?

Pain receptors Pain is a signal that is transmitted from the injured part of the body to the brain. Most illness causes pain; therefore the pain signal cannot be ignored. Noxious stimuli elicit tissue damage and activated pain receptors. Activation of pain receptors initiates the process that pain is experienced. Pain receptors are free nerve endings presented in the skin, muscles, joints, bone and viscera. They are sensory receptors that sense and detect tissue damage and then transmit the signal through nerves to the brain. There are three types of pain receptors. First type is skin pain receptors which are in the skin. They can sense pinching, cutting, stretching, temperature, chemicals and other mechanical. If the stimulation is prolonged, these receptors are sensitized and respond more widely. Second type is joint receptors in the joint capsules and ligaments. Third type is visceral pain receptors located in internal organs. Silent pain receptors or sleep pain receptors are these ...