Back and Neck

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are perhaps best known in the West as techniques for the relief of pain and related musculo-skeletal conditions. While there is no denying that acupuncture in particular can be quite effective in providing genuine, long-lasting relief from the pain and stiffness commonly affecting the neck and back, it is also true that Traditional Chinese Medicine, by adopting a more holistic view of human health, can often help to address not only the symptoms of pain and discomfort, but also, and more importantly, can assist in preventing the recurrence of the condition by addressing the underlying causes.

For cases arising out of simple over-exertion or strain, the relief from acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can be immediate and profound. Muscles knotted with pain, restrictions in the range of motion, and general pain and discomfort can often be resolved with only one or two treatments, although more difficult cases may require a regular course of treatment to secure the greatest effect.

Neck and back pain are often the result of excessive exertions, or of awkward or unnatural movements, but they can also be symptoms of deeper problems. Stress and anxiety, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine and also the experience of most people, can often lead to physical symptoms of pain and discomfort. It is not unusual for a person with pain in the neck, shoulders, and back to also be suffering from acute or chronic stress and stress-related conditions.

A competent acupuncturist, recognizing the pattern of symptoms at work, would work to treat not only the very real muscular pain in the affected areas, but would also work with the patient to address and resolve the stress and anxiety that are causing the symptoms in the first place. Often, the plan of treatment will focus first on the immediate pain and stiffness, but will also devote considerable attention to helping the patient assume a calm sense of wellness and deep relaxation. As in so many other cases, the acupuncturist, by working to resolve obstructions or disharmonies in a person's qi, will help the patient to return to normal, balanced health.

Quite often, the relief of back, shoulder, and neck pain is merely a pleasant side-effect of the more fundamental work of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.