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optim health and acupuncture san francisco
Cement Floor

Acupuncture
Dry Needling
for Back Pain

Cement Floor

Does acupuncture dry needling help back pain?

Cement Floor

Experiencing back pain in San Francisco, CA?
You’re not alone!
 
It is estimated that about 31 million Americans suffer from back pain at any moment, and approximately 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. 
 
It’s no surprise, then, that back pain is one of the most common reasons why patients seek our San Francisco orthopedic acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and dry needling treatments.  
 
One of the primary functions of the back is to absorb stress while allowing movement. Whether due to minor repetitive stress or more severe trauma such as a fall or car accident, the tendons, ligaments, muscles, discs, and bones of the back can become damaged or irritated, resulting in pain. 

 

Cement Floor

While the root causes of back pain are numerous, some of the more common causes include 

                   - poor posture
                   - excessive sitting
                   - repetitive twisting, bending, and extending of the back
                   - weak back, abdominal, and gluteal muscles
                   - muscle tightness and trigger points
                   - disc problems such as bulges or herniations
                   - acute trauma
                   - scoliosis and other structural conditions

Our unique combination of orthopedic acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and dry needling can both relieve the acute pain symptoms as well as address the underlying issues and muscle imbalances associated with back pain. Our acupuncture treatments for back pain usually begin with palpation of various muscle groups to assess any structural imbalances, followed by the releasing of any trigger points and tight tender knots that may be causing the back pain.  
Other modalities such as infrared heat therapy, cupping, Graston Technique, and topical herbal liniments may also be incorporated into our acupuncture treatments for back pain, as needed.
 
Most patients report increased mobility and decreased pain levels within 3 to 5 sessions, while others see an improvement after just the first visit.


 

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