Muscular Pain
Acupuncture is widely used to treat muscular pain, such as sciatica, back and neck pain, frozen shoulder, tendonitis and fibromyalgia.
Muscular pain often has complex pathology, and may be caused by ongoing stimulation of nerve fibres, inflammation and functional disturbances in the nervous system. Significantly, additional pain may be caused by muscle tension or shortening. Acupuncture is very effective in resolving these problems.
Massage is useful to loosen the muscular tension over the painful area. As well as feeling good, massage releases tight muscle fibres, increases blood flow and improves circulation to the area. As the more superficial layers relax, any chronic tightness in the deeper tissues can be identified. Releasing these tight points is crucial to successfully treating muscular pain, and they are particularly responsive to acupuncture.
In Chinese medical theory, these points are known as 'ashi' which means 'ouch' or 'that's it'. They are often exquisitely painful, and patients will frequently recognise them as the root of the problem.
In western biomedicine, these points are known as trigger points. Travell and Simons (1983) define a trigger point as a focus of hyper-irritability in a tissue that, when compressed, is locally tender. If sufficiently sensitive, the trigger point may generate referred pain and tenderness, and can also affect autonomic processes (unconscious functions such as heartbeat, sweating etc.)
Ashi points are usually too tender and painful to massage, and this is where acupuncture comes into its own. Needling the point is quick and almost painless, sometimes the area releases almost immediately, otherwise it happens more gradually as the patient relaxes.
Stimulating other acupuncture points away from the painful area also has a positive effect, opening up the circulation and supporting the body's own healing systems.
If you are interested in having treatment please contact Harriet.
Sports Injuries (PDF)
References
Travell JG and Simons DG (1983) Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction - the trigger point manual (Vol 1 and Vol 2). Williams and Watkins, Baltimore.
"Every so often, hard physical work on the farm, leaves me with terrible aches and pains. My shoulders and arms in particular can be agony. I come for acupuncture with Harriet and I feel pounds better. It really does the trick." Howard, 60
"After picking up my grandchildren, my back ache got a lot worse and I had really bad pain in my leg. Pain killers helped a bit, but I didn't like taking them. The massage and acupuncture made a big difference to me. After 4 or 5 treatments the pain has almost gone, I'm sleeping better and I feel 10 years younger." Helen, 58