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If you're suffering from lower back pain, relief may be found in a variation of acupuncture: Acupressure. According to a recent study, acupressure may be more effective in reducing lower back pain than physical therapy.
Low back pain is a common health condition. In prior studies, acupressure has been shown to be effective in alleviating various types of pain, but its ability to treat low back pain had not been fully evaluated.
Researchers in Taiwan recruited 129 patients with chronic low back pain from an orthopedic clinic. All patients completed a standard disability questionnaire before being randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups.
An acupressure group of 64 patients received six sessions of acupressure and a group of 65 patients received standard physical therapy. Results were analyzed after treatment and again after six months.
Participants in the acupressure group reported a significant reduction in low back pain after treatment compared to those in the physical therapy group.
Low back pain improvement lasted for six months.
Study findings indicate that acupressure for back pain can be more effective than physical therapy in terms of:
- Pain scores
- Functional status
- Disability
Acupressure is a healing therapy that applies pressure with the fingers and other parts of the body to stimulate the body's natural curative abilities. When acupressure trigger points are pressed, they promote circulation of blood and the body's life force energy to aid healing.
Acupuncture and acupressure use the same pressure points and meridians, but whereas acupuncture utilizes needles, acupressure uses pressure and integrates massage therapy techniques.
Acupressure is a style of Japanese Shiatsu massage therapy, providing a system for balancing the body's energy or qi. Pressure is applied to specific acupoints using hand, elbow, knee, and foot techniques.
For information about Acupuncture & Massage College’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs call Joe Calareso, Admissions Director, at (305) 595-9500.
