Understanding Back Pain
Every year, more than 8% of the global population experiences back pain. Many people also experience pain in the upper back and neck, making back pain one of the most common medical problems.
Symptoms
Back pain can range from a muscle ache to a shooting, burning or stabbing feeling. Also, the pain can radiate down a leg. Bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking can make pain worse.
Most back pain improves over time with home treatment and self-care, often within a few weeks. Contact your healthcare professional for back pain that:
- Lasts longer than a few weeks.
- Is severe and doesn’t improve with rest.
- Spreads down one or both legs, especially if it goes below the knee.
- Causes weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs.
- Is paired with unexplained weight loss.
In some people, back pain can signal a serious medical problem. This is rare, but seek immediate care for back pain that:
- Causes new bowel or bladder problems.
- Is accompanied by a fever.
- Follows a fall, blow to the back or other injury.
Causes
Back pain often develops without a cause that shows up in a test or an imaging study. Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:
- Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. For people in poor physical condition, constant strain on the back can cause painful muscle spasms.
- Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones in the spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, a bulging or ruptured disk might not cause back pain. Disk disease is often found on spine X-rays, CT scans or MRIs done for another reason.
- Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
- Osteoporosis. The spine’s vertebrae can develop painful breaks if the bones become porous and brittle.
- Ankylosing spondylitis, also called axial spondyloarthritis. This inflammatory disease can cause some of the bones in the spine to fuse. This makes the spine less flexible.
Risk factors
Anyone can develop back pain, even children and teens. These factors can increase the risk of developing back pain:
- Age. Back pain is more common with age, starting around age 30 or 40.
- Lack of exercise. Weak, unused muscles in the back and abdomen might lead to back pain.
- Excess weight. Excess body weight puts extra stress on the back.
- Diseases. Some types of arthritis and cancer can contribute to back pain.
- Improper lifting. Using the back instead of the legs can lead to back pain.
- Psychological conditions. People prone to depression and anxiety appear to have a greater risk of back pain. Stress can cause muscle tension, which can contribute to back pain.
- Smoking. People who smoke have increased rates of back pain. This may occur because smoking causes coughing, which can lead to herniated disks. Smoking also can decrease blood flow to the spine and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Prevention
Improving one’s physical condition and learning and practicing how to use the body might help prevent back pain.
To keep the back healthy and strong:
- Exercise. Regular low-impact aerobic activities can increase strength and endurance in the back and allow the muscles to work better. Walking, bicycling and swimming are good choices because they don’t strain or jolt the back. Talk with your healthcare team about which activities to try.
- Build muscle strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back muscle exercises, which strengthen the body’s core, help condition these muscles so that they work together to support the back.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight strains back muscles.
- Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk of low back pain. The risk rises with the number of cigarettes smoked each day, so quitting can help reduce this risk.
Avoid movements that twist or strain the back. To use the body properly:
- Stand smart. Don’t slouch. Maintain a neutral pelvic position. When standing for long periods, place one foot on a low footstool to take some of the load off the lower back. Alternate feet. Good posture can reduce the stress on back muscles.
- Sit smart. Choose a seat with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. Placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of the back can maintain its typical curve. Keep knees and hips level. Change position frequently, at least every half hour.
- Lift smart. Avoid heavy lifting, if possible. If you must lift something heavy, let your legs do the work. Keep your back straight, bend only at the knees, and don’t twist. Hold the load close to your body. Find a lifting partner if the object is heavy or awkward.
How Does Acupuncture Work to Relieve Back Pain?
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Oriental medicine based on the idea that opposing forces need to be balanced. When there’s an imbalance in your body’s energy flow, you may experience pain, illness and reduced function. Acupuncture, as a medical treatment, addresses this type of imbalance, restoring the normal flow of energy.
During an acupuncture procedure, the practitioner inserts needles at specific points on the body. This stimulates the central nervous system, prompting the release of pain-relieving chemicals. Traditional acupuncture also rewires the brain by releasing neurotransmitters, which are hormones that carry messages throughout the nervous system. Some neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, block the nerve cells responsible for receiving pain signals. When these cells are blocked, pain signals can’t get through, relieving discomfort.
Acupuncture points that relieve back pain
Lower back acupuncture points
If you have pain in the lower part of your back, known as the lumbar area, an acupuncturist may target energy points in the following areas:
- Hip points
- Lower back points
- Hand points
- Foot points
- Backs of the knees
- Stomach points
Upper back acupuncture points
If you have upper back pain, the practitioner will focus on points in the head, upper back, neck and shoulders. Targeting these points may also relieve chronic pain caused by headaches, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) or fibromyalgia.
Is acupuncture effective for back pain?
Several acupuncture studies show that this is an effective, alternative medicine for relieving back pain, whether used alone or in combination with exercise, chiropractic care, physical therapy or other treatments.
Effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic lower back pain
When researchers from Penn Medicine examined a group of systematic reviews, they discovered that acupuncture provides clinically relevant benefits for people with chronic lower back pain, such as pain relief and improved function.
Cho et al. conducted a multicenter study on the use of acupuncture needles for chronic lower back pain. As part of the study, they recruited participants between the ages of 18 and 65 who experienced non-specific lower back pain for at least three months before the study began. About half of the participants received sham acupuncture (placebo acupuncture), and the other half received individualized acupuncture treatments with single-use needles. They reported that individualized acupuncture is much more effective than sham acupuncture for reducing bothersome lower back pain. Participants who received real acupuncture also reported that their chronic pain was less intense after the treatments.
Effectiveness of acupuncture for sciatica
Sciatica is one of the most common causes of back pain, making it a subject of interest for many researchers. At Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, a research team reviewed 12 previous studies focusing on the use of acupuncture to treat pain associated with sciatica. These studies included nearly 2,000 participants, allowing the team to compare the effects of acupuncture with the effects of conventional sciatica treatments. They discovered that acupuncture was more effective than Western medicine for:
- Improving sciatica symptoms
- Reducing the intensity of sciatica-related pain
- Increasing each participant’s pain threshold
Are there risks when using acupuncture?
Expert acupuncturists do everything they can to make acupuncture safe and pain-free, so adverse side effects are rare. For example, a reputable, licensed acupuncturist follows FDA regulations by targeting energy points with single-use needles and sanitizing everything thoroughly before each session. Before trying acupuncture therapy, consult your doctor, especially if you’re pregnant, under the age of 20, have a pacemaker or have a chronic health condition.
Acupuncture is most effective when it’s combined with other noninvasive treatment methods, such as chiropractic care and physical therapy. Ask your care team for recommendations regarding treatment options and timing to receive the full benefits of acupuncture.
Physical therapy for back pain
Physical therapists use several therapeutic approaches to help patients improve their range of motion, flexibility and balance. If your care team recommends physical therapy in conjunction with acupuncture, you may receive the following treatments:
- Supervised exercise: During a PT session, your physical therapist may have you perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your back. Strong muscles do a better job of supporting the structures in your body, relieving pain and making it easier to move around.
- Ultrasound: Ultrasound involves the use of sound waves to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Electrical stimulation: If your back pain is the result of an injury, electrical stimulation may work in combination with acupuncture to reduce inflammation around the injury site.
- Massage: Massage isn’t just something that feels good. It also relieves pain by reducing muscle tension and improving circulation.
Fuji Wellness can help you put your pain behind you. With convenient location in Tokyo, Sunny Pham sensei can help you identify the source of your pain and put an end to it for good. To learn more about how acupuncture and other conventional treatments help relieve pain and improve physical functioning, call 090-8508-2507 or request an appointment online.
- Address: 132-0031 Matsushima 1-chome, 21-14, Tokyo, Japan
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