|
  |
|
|
Acupuncture For Back Pain: A Prickly Debate
By June Campbell
Acupuncture for back pain may be somewhat of an oddity in the Western world, but in Eastern countries, it has been standard practice for thousands of years. Despite initial scepticism, westerners are gradually warming to the idea of acupuncture to treat back, neck and other pain. Recent scientific studies demonstrating acupuncture’s effectiveness have contributed to the growing acceptance. Proponents claim that not only does acupuncture help treat back pain, but it is a more cost effective treatment than various other approaches. In some countries, including the UK, governments have opted to subsidize the cost of acupuncture to make the treatment more affordable to the patient. The Acupuncture Controversy Recent studies notwithstanding, acupuncture sometimes gets labeled as pseudo-science at best or a sham at worst. While evidence continues to support acupuncture’s effectiveness at treating back and neck pain, sceptics point out that this therapeutic approach is based on concepts from Eastern medicine that have not been scientifically validated. Specifically, Western medicine does not recognize the existence of chi and energy meridians -- two concepts that are at the very root of acupuncture. Those who are pro-acupuncture agree that as yet we have not proven the existence of chi or meridians. They go on to point out that regardless of scientific proof of the energy concept, a number of random, controlled trials have shown that acupuncture does, indeed work to reduce or eliminate back pain. (Random, controlled trials are the backbone of medical and scientific research). In other words, scientific testing verifies that acupuncture works; it cannot prove why it works. What Happens during an Acupuncture Section? Typically, when commencing an acupuncture session, a trained and qualified acupuncturist massages the patient’s body and invites feedback regarding which areas are experiencing the most pain. The next step involves inserting a number of long, very thin needles into specific locations on the body. The needles are sited so as to stimulate the flow of chi energy along the meridians or pathways. Despite the rather frightening appearance of the needles, an acupuncture treatment is usually quite comfortable for the recipient. The following link has a video demonstration of an acupuncture session: Breakthrough New AcupunctureTreatment For Pain Relief
In most cases, the patient will be asked to remove articles of clothing, down to the undergarments. When treating back pain, the practitioner needs to view and perhaps treat the entire spine. Therefore, even those with lower back pain will be required to remove garments above the waist. Women may be asked to unfasten their bras but usually do not have to remove their lingerie completely. Depending on the individual’s condition, response and the positioning of the chi channels, the acupuncturist may opt to treat additional areas of the body. Most people with back pain, especially chronic back pain require several sessions to achieve the full relief that acupuncture can provide. But the benefits don’t stop there. Acupuncturists state that their therapeutic approach does more than relieve pain. Acupuncture goes a step further and works to rebuild the muscle balance that individuals with back pain may have lost. Typical Results with Acupuncture Although there are individual differences, as a rule of thumb, approximately 50% of people undergoing acupuncture will experience long term results. At first glance, fifty per cent may seem to be a low number. However, when we compare it to the results achieved by other therapies, it is impressive. For example, the more traditional treatments of Western medicine – physiotherapy and medication – offer long standing results in only about twenty-five percent of the cases. In other words, acupuncture is twice as likely to provide long standing relief for back pain – whether it is lower back pain, upper back pain, back and neck pain or otherwise.
Other Benefits from Acupuncture Many patients who try acupuncture for back pain report additional, unexpected benefits. These benefits include an enhanced sense of well-being, better sleep patterns and a decrease in anxiety. For additional information about acupuncture and other treatments for back pain, please refer to this link: http://www.squidoo.com/treatingbackpain
|
Contributor's Note
Since I have no chronic pain, I have not tried acupuncture. However, I do use self help therapies and practices based on the concept of chi energy and energy meridians. I am impressed with the results and I attribute my ongoing good health, in part, to working with chi energies.
|
|
Approaches to Treating Back Pain
| University of Maryland: STUDY ANALYSIS SHOWS ACUPUNCTURE EFFECTIVE FOR TREATING CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN
| Video Demo: Breakthrough New Acupuncture Treatment For Pain Relief
Acupuncure Session
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
|
 |
|
Good article June. I must admit I`ve never really fancied having needles stuck in me and twiddled about, but if I was suffering from something like backpain and it did the trick I`d give it a go.
 | | odls Feb 10, 2010 12:24 | |
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
I agree, it looks pretty intimidating. Still, if one suffered from pain, I think I would view this as the lesser of two evils. LOL
Well written and researched, June.
A 5 rank was all I could give you. Keep up the great intels and all the information.
Thank you for sharing.
Best wishes.
Frederick
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate it.
Great information. If I was having back pain I would definitely give accupuncture a try. Having needles stuck in my back actually sounds pretty simple compared to a lot of other available treatments.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Isn't that the truth? Thanks for commenting.
I'd like to give acupuncture a try as I get pain in my lower back from time to time. I don't think there's any in the local area I could get to though. Needles don't bother me so I think it'd be quite relaxing.
The copyright for this content entitled "Acupuncture For Back Pain: A Prickly Debate" has been specified by the contributor as:
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0
Details 
This content may be copied and distributed (but not modified), as long as the original author is acknowledged with a link back to the content page.
If you use this content according to the license specified, you must link to the following URL:
http://nightcats.qondio.com/
|
|
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
