Acupuncture for neck, Back, and shoulder pain

The causes of neck and shoulder pain and stiffness are many and can range from silly reasons like sleeping in a wrong posture to serious ones like arthritis and meningitis which can leave us with a sore and painful neck for several days. 

Some of the common causes of neck pain are:      

• Poor Sitting Posture

• Poor sleeping posture

• Muscle Strain

• Overexertion

• Sprain

The possible common causes of back pain in today's lifestyle are:

• Lack of exercise 

• Incorrect  posture 

• Long hours of sitting 

• Stress 

• Overweight 

• Bad dietary habits 

• Improper exercise without proper guidance 

• Spasms of back muscles and soft tissues

  
  

Some serious causes of neck, back and shoulder pain include:

• Meningitis - Inflammation of meninges around the brain

• Arthritis - Cervical spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis

• Disc prolapse

• Degeneration of joints & bones

• Osteoporosis

Acupuncture Treatments

Acupuncture treatment for neck and shoulder pain may include a combination of acupuncture with tui na(Chinese medical massage), and cupping. The therapy is tailored to each patient and will depend on the root cause, location and quality of the pain, and the state of health of the patient.

Acupoints are chosen both at the location of the pain and along the affected acupuncture channel that is farther away from the pain. This technique increases circulation in the acupuncture channels, which will reduce pain and speed healing.

When the root cause of the shoulder pain is an underlying weakness in the body’s energy, then less acupuncture points on the neck and shoulder will be used. These acupoints will focus on increasing the amount of energy in the body.

Best Acupressure Regions to Relieve Neck and Shoulder Pains:

• Shoulder Well
  This point is located on the shoulder muscle, halfway between the base of the neck and the end of the shoulder muscle. Stimulating this point helps in relieving stiffness of neck and shoulder. It also helps in relieving back pain.

• Completion Bone
  This point is located on the occipital ridge, in the depression behind the ear in the SCM muscle. Stimulating this point helps in relieving headache, neck pain and dizziness.  

• Heaven’s Pillar
  This point is located on the occipital ridge, just at the side of where the spine enters the skull in the tendon. Stimulating this point helps in relieving neck pains, numbness and stiffness in the neck.  

• Union Valley
  This point is located in the web between the thumb and the index finger. Stimulating this point helps in reducing tension and uneasiness in the neck and shoulders. Stimulating this point is also a great way of relieving stress and anxiety.

To sustain the benefits of Acupuncture, it is recommended to:  

• Practice a correct sitting posture, when sitting for long hours. It is advisable to get up from the desk and move around every 30 minutes. 

• Regular exercise practice like yoga, tai chi or any other recommended exercise by the practitioner. Prevent going out in cold weathers without adequate clothing. Avoid strenuous & jerky movements. 

• Stress management.

Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Chronic Pains

The latest studies have found that treatment with acupuncture works better than the usual methods like over-the-counter or prescription pain medications for dealing with chronic pain.

By: Dr.A Mohamad Saleem

To schedule an appointment, please call the office at 610-668-1338
or email maryellenvelahos@gmail.com