Acupuncture: An Effective Treatment for Low Back Pain
With the rise of technology and sedentary lifestyles, lower back pain has become an increasingly common ailment across all age groups in the United States. It is estimated that 84 percent of adults have had low back pain at some point in their lives, while 8 percent of adults experience persistent or chronic pain (Wheeler, 2022). Low back pain is the leading cause of disability contributing to missed workdays and work limitations (HPI, 2019). In most cases, the cause of lower back pain stems from injury to the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues. Stress on the soft tissue of the back commonly occurs due to poor posture, improper bending/lifting habits, inactivity, and muscle imbalance. Other more chronic conditions such as arthritis and structural irregularities may also contribute to pain.
Luckily, most cases of low back pain can be treated without drastic intervention. Healthcare providers may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers and rest until normal movement can be resumed. Physical therapy can help to strengthen the muscles used to support the spine and lower back. Manual manipulation, such as chiropractic care and massage therapy, may aid in relaxing tight muscles leading to pain. In more severe and/or chronic presentations, steroid injections are used to decrease local inflammation. Surgical repair is required in some situations, but surgery is usually saved as a last resort if all other interventions have failed. Recent studies have shown that for low back pain with obvious nerve impingement, conservative measures are just as effective as surgery (Callison, 2000).
A less commonly talked about but highly effective treatment for low back pain is acupuncture. Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine in which thin needles are inserted at specific points in the body to stimulate the healing process. In the view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, weak Kidney Qi and the stagnation of Qi and Blood are two of the main factors contributing to low back pain. The Kidneys, viewed as the power source of the body, can cause an achy lower back when weakened. Kidney Qi can be depleted by excessive work, inactivity, excessive sexual activity, prolonged stress, and childbirth. Qi and Blood, two of the body’s vital substances, must flow freely through the channels for optimal wellness. A sprain or strain to the tissues is likely to cause stagnation of these substances, causing a blockage which produces pain.
Acupuncture works to treat the root cause of disease or imbalance. In the case of lower back pain, an acupuncturist will include points to nourish any underlying deficiency which may be connected to the recurrence of pain. Increasing the flow of Qi and Blood, in other words increasing circulation, to a stagnant area will also be a major focus in providing relief. In addition to harmonizing the body as a whole, acupuncture also has the unique ability to stimulate myofascial motor points. A motor point is defined as the most electrically excitable area of the muscle and represents the greatest concentration of nerve endings (Callison, 2000). The insertion of acupuncture needles into these sites “resets” dysfunctional muscle spindles (observed as tight bands or knots) that cause abnormal muscle function and spasm. Using motor points, the practitioner can relax shortened overactive muscles as well as activate elongated weak muscles, helping to regulate the muscle imbalances leading to pain.
There have been several studies demonstrating the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating both acute and chronic low back pain. A meta-analysis conducted in 2020 reviewing 33 studies with 8270 overall participants exploring acupuncture for chronic non-specific low back pain found that acupuncture was more effective than no treatment in improving pain and function in the immediate term (Mu et al., 2020). The American College of Physicians has also developed new guidelines for treating acute, sub-acute, and chronic low back pain. Under the number one recommendation it is stated that patients and clinicians should select non-pharmacologic treatment with superficial heat, massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation (Qaseem et al., 2017).
Back pain, although prevalent, is a manageable and treatable condition. Emerging evidence suggests that non-pharmacologic and non-invasive intervention should be the first line of defense. Acupuncture works to increase circulation, correct muscle imbalance and dysfunction, and resolve underlying disharmony. All with little to no side effects. Low back pain may be an ever-increasing burden in today’s society, but acupuncture can help soothe this growing ache.