🌿 Lower Back Pain due to Prolonged Sitting
🎯 Prolonged Sitting Brings Imbalance
Sitting for extended periods is a common issue that worsens lower back pain. The lumbar section of the spine takes on additional stress, altering its natural curvature. Muscular imbalances further contribute to this discomfort.
🤔 Understanding Imbalance
When discussing ‘imbalance,’ it’s essential to differentiate between:
- 🦴 Spinal Imbalance: The lumbar spine experiences added stress due to the weight of the upper body, disrupting its natural curvature.
- 💪 Muscular Imbalance: Prolonged sitting results in some back muscles becoming tense, while others weaken, increasing stress on the spinal column.
📍 Therapeutic Interventions: Acupuncture, Cupping, and Tuina
📌 Traditional Acupuncture Techniques
Typical acupuncture points for addressing lower back pain may include Bladder 23, Bladder 40, Du 3, Du 4, and Du 20. However, the specific points chosen may vary to target root issues and are often personalised for each individual. Less commonly used points such as Tung’s Ling Gu and Da Bai can be effective to treat lumbar pain.
🔥 Cupping Techniques
- Flash Cupping: Quick suction and release stimulate blood flow and loosen muscles.
- Stationary Cupping: The cups are left in place to promote increased circulation and muscle relaxation.
- Fire Cupping: A method using fire to create suction, adding warmth to relax and penetrate tight spots effectively.
🤲 Meridian Massage
Tuina complements acupuncture and cupping, focusing on acupoints, meridians, and muscle groups to provide comprehensive muscle relaxation and promote Qi flow.
💡 Heat Lamp Therapy
In addition to the above, heat lamp therapy delivers infrared heat, aiding in deeper relaxation and further enhancing the therapeutic effects of the treatments.
🌟 Conclusion and Future Directions
Lower back pain from prolonged sitting is a significant concern for office workers. At Acupuncture Medicine South Melbourne, we employ therapies like traditional acupuncture, various cupping techniques, Tuina, and heat lamp therapy. We offer a well-rounded, evidence-based approach that aims not just to alleviate symptoms but also to target underlying causes, offering a more sustainable solution to chronic lower back pain.
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