Daily activities and repetitive motions, whether related to desk work, physical labor, or sports, can lead to a gradual accumulation of stress and strain in the soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and fascia. This process often results in myofascial adhesions and muscle fatigue, leading to cumulative strain, reduced mobility, and discomfort (Hong, 2000).
Common conditions include:
- Overuse Injuries: Repetitive actions, such as typing or lifting, leading to localised fatigue and stiffness.
- Postural Strain: Malalignment of the spine or joints, resulting in compensatory muscular imbalances.
- Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): Common after exercise, caused by microdamage to muscle fibers (Urroz et al., 2013).
- Cumulative Microtrauma: Ongoing stress to tissues can progress to chronic conditions such as tendinopathy or myofascial pain syndrome.
Acupuncture for managing muscular wear and tear
Acupuncture targets myofascial trigger points, motor points, and acupuncture points along the body to:
Release of Myofascial Trigger Points
Trigger points are localised hyper-irritable nodules within a taut band of muscle. Needling these areas leads to:
- A local twitch response, which disrupts abnormal muscle contraction.
- Restoration of normal sarcomere length, alleviating pain and restoring flexibility (Hong, 2000).
Improved Circulation and Tissue Perfusion
Acupuncture stimulates vasodilation and increases regional blood flow, enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to stressed tissues while removing metabolic waste products. This facilitates healing and reduces inflammatory markers (Sandberg et al., 2003).
Neuromuscular Re-education
Acupuncture targets motor points, the sites where nerves enter muscles, to optimise neuromuscular activation. This technique is especially effective for correcting muscle imbalances and improving motor control (Zhou & Benharash, 2014).
Reduction of Muscle Hypertonicity
By engaging the autonomic nervous system, acupuncture helps modulate muscle tone, reducing hypertonicity in overused or compensatory muscles while promoting relaxation (Zhou & Benharash, 2014).
Pain Modulation
Acupuncture triggers the release of endogenous opioids and influences descending pain modulation pathways in the central nervous system, providing both local and systemic pain relief (Urroz et al., 2013).
Integrating Acupuncture with Other Therapies
Acupuncture is more effective when combined with evidence-based interventions such as:
- Corrective Exercise Therapy: Targeting weak or inhibited muscles to improve strength and function.
- Manual Therapy Techniques: Enhancing soft tissue mobility and joint alignment.
- Ergonomic Modifications: Addressing workplace factors that contribute to repetitive strain or postural dysfunction.
Reference Lists
Hong, C.-Z. (2000). Myofascial trigger points: Pathophysiology and correlation with acupuncture points. Acupuncture in Medicine, 18(1), 41–47. https://doi.org/10.1136/aim.18.1.41
Sandberg, M., Lundeberg, T., Lindberg, L. G., & Gerdle, B. (2003). Effects of acupuncture on skin and muscle blood flow in healthy subjects. European journal of applied physiology, 90(1-2), 114–119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0825-3
Zhou, W., & Benharash, P. (2014). Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture based on the principle of meridians. Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies, 7(4), 190–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jams.2014.02.007
Urroz, P., Colagiuri, B., Smith, C. A., & Cheema, B. S. (2013). Effect of acute acupuncture treatment on exercise performance and postexercise recovery: a systematic review. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 19(1), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2011.0727