In this entry, we look at alternative Back Pain therapy. Please note that this is for educational purposes only. The author is not a medical professional, and does not recommend any one Back Pain therapy over another. Studies of alternative Back Pain therapy continue to prove inconclusive, but some have obtained relief from the treatments described here.

Acupressure

Japanese Back Pain therapy that has been used for centuries, acupressure involves pressure on specific body points. Pressure is applied with the finger tips and palm of the hand. The pressure is applied in a slow, rhythmical manner. It may be light, or it may gradually go deep into a muscle point. The Japanese term for this Back Pain therapy is “shiastsu”, which means finger pressure. Shiatsu was recognized by Japanese law in 1955, and this official definition of Shiatsu was published in 1957 by the Ministry of Welfare’s medical department:

Shiatsu technique refers to the use of fingers and the palm of one’s hands to apply pressure to particular sections on the surface of the body for the purpose of correcting imbalances of the body, and for maintaining and promoting health. It is also a method contributing to the healing of specific illnesses.

Shiatsu is not massage, although this Back Pain therapy is sometimes referred to as shiatsu massage. There is no rubbing, pushing, or pulling. The fingers or palm press gradually down on the desired points and as gradually withdraw. It is safe and effective Back Pain therapy.

Acupuncture

This ancient Chinese Back Pain therapy is based on the belief that a life energy flows throughout the body. If at any point in the body that flow is interrupted, illness can result. Acupuncture attempts to unblock the life energy routes by insertion of thin needles at precise locations. This Back Pain therapy relies on that release of blockage to relieve Back Pain and restore health. In some practices, acupuncture needles are twisted after insertion to foster endorphin production. In other practices, a low-voltage electrical current is passed through the needles.

Injections

When conventional Back Pain therapy with medications fails, injections may be used to relieve chronic Back Pain. Some of the most commonly used injections include facet point injections, nerve root blocks, and trigger point injections. One injection type Back Pain therapy is termed “prolotherapy”. Prolotherapy is defined as a treatment in which a sugar or solution or other irritating substance is injected into the periosteum, the fibrous tissue covering the bones. This irritating solution is thought to strengthen the attachment of tendons and ligaments.

In Part 2 of this article, we will look at four more forms of Back Pain therapy.

Before trying alternative Back Pain therapy, please talk to your health care provider.

Alternative Back Pain therapy includes those already discussed: acupressure (shiatsu), acupuncture, and injections of irritants to strengthen tendons and ligaments.

Alternative Back Pain therapy also includes the following four treatments.

1. Rolfing Massage

Rolfing is a type of Back Pain therapy that relies on strong pressure massage. Unlike shiatsu, which is normally not painful, this Back Pain therapy can be uncomfortable. The practitioner applies strong pressure on deep tissues in the back, with a goal of structural integrity. In other words, by relieving tightness of the fascia, a sheath of tissue covering back muscles, the practitioner hopes to ensure that all organs, bones, and tissues are properly positioned within the body. This Back Pain therapy is said to improve posture also. Developed by Dr. Ida Rolf (1878-1979), the massage is thought to facilitate body alignment. Careful, systematic manual pressure is thought to relieve chronic restrictions, providing the body with the freedom it needs to “re-organize” at very deep levels.

2. Spinal Manipulation

Chiropractors and osteopathic doctors are most likely to use this type of Back Pain therapy. Spinal manipulation involves use of the hands to adjust, massage, mobilize, or stimulate the spine and the tissues that surround it. The belief is that this Back Pain therapy will restore joint mobility by applying a controlled force into joints that have become restricted in movement. If you have arthritis in your back, osteoporosis, or spinal cord compression, this Back Pain therapy is not a good choice.

3. Traction

The idea behind this Back Pain therapy is that back function will improve if the back is stretched through the use of pulleys and weights. The rationale is to pull apart vertebrae, allowing a bulging disc to slip back into place. For some people, pain relief is experienced while in traction, but the relief is temporary. Once traction has been removed, the pain returns.

4. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

TENS Back Pain therapy uses mild electric impulses to stimulate the nerve endings under the skin in the area of pain. The sufferer administers this Back Pain therapy at home by placing electrodes on the skin near the area of pain. The electrodes are connected to a small, battery-powered TENS unit. It is believed that the low level of electrical current used in TENS works by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain-blocking chemicals. As endorphins are released into the spinal fluid, pain is numbed.

Back Pain therapy can do actual damage if used in the wrong way or under the wrong conditions. Before trying alternative Back Pain therapy, please talk to your health care provider.

The information presented here is for educational purposes only. The author is not a medical professional, and does not recommend any one Back Pain therapy over another. Studies of alternative Back Pain therapy prove uncertain as to the outcomes, but some do obtain relief from the treatments described.

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