This article was co-authored by Peter D'Aquino, L.Ac, MS, NCCAOM and by How.com.vn staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Peter D'Aquino is an Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine based in New York City. Peter is licensed to practice in New York State and holds board certification by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture (NCCAOM) and Oriental Medicine in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. He has 10 years of experience practicing holistic pain management and sports medicine. He specializes in treating pain and orthopedic conditions along with rehab, fitness, weight loss, and digestive issues. He is also certified as a Personal Trainer by The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and certified in Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) and Functional Range Release (FRR) movement therapy. He holds an MA in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York (PCOM).
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If you’re dealing with back pain, especially from a herniated disc or sciatica, doing acupressure can help. Acupressure is simply the process of stimulating specific points of your body that trigger the release of pain-relieving chemicals and relax your muscles. Not only is it easy to do, but you can perform it yourself in the comfort of your home! Read on for a full list of acupressure points that can relieve back pain fast.[1]
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionWhat are the top acupressure points to target for relieving back pain?Peter D'Aquino, L.Ac, MS, NCCAOMPeter D'Aquino is an Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine based in New York City. Peter is licensed to practice in New York State and holds board certification by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture (NCCAOM) and Oriental Medicine in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. He has 10 years of experience practicing holistic pain management and sports medicine. He specializes in treating pain and orthopedic conditions along with rehab, fitness, weight loss, and digestive issues. He is also certified as a Personal Trainer by The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and certified in Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) and Functional Range Release (FRR) movement therapy. He holds an MA in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York (PCOM).
Licensed AcupuncturistOne of the most common areas I focus on for patients with back pain is in the hips. There's a muscle called the gluteus medius, which is in the back side of your hip, and you can relieve a lot of pain caused by excessive sitting by rolling a hard ball like a tennis ball across that area.
Video
Tips
- To help prevent back pain: maintain a healthy weight, remain active, avoid prolonged bed rest, warm up or stretch before exercising, maintain proper posture, wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes, sleep on a firm mattress, and bend your knees when lifting.Thanks
- See a specialist if your back pain continues for several days. Your doctor might order X-rays, bone scans, an MRI, a CT scan, or an ultrasound, which can help them diagnose your back pain.Thanks
- Your doctor may also recommend anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin to help you cope with your back pain.Thanks
Warnings
- Don’t use acupressure on open wounds or swollen and inflamed areas (meaning they’re red or warm to the touch). Avoid areas with scar tissue, boils, blisters, or rashes.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.rogelcancercenter.org/support/symptoms-and-side-effects/alternative-medicine/acupressure
- ↑ https://chiro.org/acupuncture/ABSTRACTS/Acupuncture_Points.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2c4uwrosZdw?t=23
- ↑ https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/353407
- ↑ https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/740-constipationstcv
- ↑ https://youtu.be/3zhv6QWlxjs?t=13
- ↑ https://www.orthopraxis.at/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/triggerpoints_melzack.pdf
- ↑ https://acupoints.org/bl48-acupuncture-point/
- ↑ Peter D'Aquino, L.Ac, MS, NCCAOM. Licensed Acupuncturist. Expert Interview. 14 April 2020.
About This Article
To use acupressure for back pain, locate the following areas on both sides of the spine: the paraspinal muscles just above your hip bones, the hip pressure points a few inches lateral to the tail bone and over the dimples above the butt muscles, and then the buttocks. For each region, press down and inwardly with your thumbs toward the muscles’ center, hold firmly for a couple of minutes, and then release gradually. Finally, apply ice wrapped in a thin towel to the thicker back and hip muscles for 15 minutes. To learn about more accessible acupressure points on the arms and legs, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "Brilliant, informative page, thank you. I'm currently doing studies of the muscles, meridians and pressure points balancing, and your page has added much more understanding of their exact whereabouts and the points' many uses for so many conditions. Appreciated very much. "..." more
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