Lower back pain is a common condition that sometimes improves by itself over time. However, for many, lower back pain is recurrent and chronic. Doctors need to use different interventions to help control the pain.
Chronic lower back pain can take an emotional and physical toll, and 60-80% of adults experience it at some point. Finding pain relief can be challenging on your own. Fortunately, doctors can suggest several interventions, depending on the cause and severity of the pain.
If you are experiencing lower back pain, here are two treatments that offer fast relief:
Acupuncture
While acupuncture finds its roots in ancient Chinese medicine, it also uses anatomy, physiology, pathology, and principles of evidence-based medicine. It involves inserting very thin sterile metal needles into particular points throughout the body, which trigger the central nervous system to release chemicals into the body that relieve pain and promote wellness. The needles are inserted, gently moved and pressed upon, and then removed after some time.
The standard pressure points to help relieve lower back pain are:
- Hand and foot points
- Lower back points
- Hip and stomach points
- Back of the knees points
Acupuncture is a sought-after treatment. It helps patients with back pain by:
- Helping release serotonin
- Stimulating the nervous system
- Increasing blood flow
- Relieving inflammation
Dry Needling
Dry needling is very similar to acupuncture. It involves the insertion of very thin sterile metal needles into trigger points, which are located in knotted and tight muscles that have become strained due to wear and tear, overuse, and stress. The insertions cause knotted muscles to contract, then relax. Dry needling providers look for a twitch response from the pain area. This can be highly effective in relieving pain in a variety of areas, especially the lower back.
Practitioners also refer to dry needling as:
- Trigger point dry needling
- Myofascial trigger point dry needling
- Intramuscular manual therapy
- Intramuscular stimulation
The treatment is “dry” because doctors don’t inject any medicine or chemical into the body via the needle during treatment. Trigger point therapy is great for pain relief, a better range of motion, and increased flexibility.
Integrating The Two Treatments
Despite the similarities between acupuncture and dry needling, the treatments have different origins and take different paths to relieve symptoms such as pain. However, both have proven to reduce lower back pain and promote wellness just as effectively as each other.
Combining both treatments promotes faster recovery by treating the body more effectively and comprehensively. Trigger point therapy helps target and unknot muscles in the lower back, while acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system to release beneficial chemicals into the brain, spinal cord, and muscles, thus bringing relief.
If you are interested in one or both of these treatments, it’s best to talk to a provider with experience performing such treatments for ailments such as lower back pain. They can detect which treatment will bring you relief and whether combining the treatments will bolster the results.
Acupuncture And Dry Needling For Lower Back Pain In Austin, Texas
At Endeavor Physical Therapy & Wellness, our physical therapists are here to help you with all your ailments, including the all-too-common lower back pain. You may call us at (512) 886-7110 to learn more about acupuncture and dry needling. You may also use our appointment request form to book a consultation with a PT near you.
We also have physical therapy clinics in Manor, Kyle, Pflugerville, Hutto, Round Rock, Cedar Park, San Marcos, and Bee Cave. We look forward to helping you return to a pain-free life!
