Acupuncture therapy – a traditional Chinese medicine based on circulating the body’s life energy to promote healing & relaxation. Acupuncture penetrates the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles, which are then activated through gentle and specific movements of the practitioner’s hands or electrical stimulation. Improve your health with acupuncture treatment – learn how it stimulates endorphins, impacts the autonomic nervous system & more.
Discover the benefits of acupuncture therapy – from releasing endorphins to influencing the autonomic nervous system. Most people report feeling minimal pain as the needle is inserted. The needle is inserted to a point that produces a sensation of pressure or ache. Needles may be heated during the treatment, or mild electric current may be applied. Some people report acupuncture makes them feel energized. Others say they feel relaxed.
Can individuals dealing with neck pain find relief with electroacupuncture therapy while reducing pain symptoms to restore neck function?
Introduction
The cervical region of the body consists of the neck region, which allows the head to be mobile and stabilized from discomfort or pain. The neck has numerous muscles, ligaments, and tendons surrounding the cervical facet joints and spinal discs. However, when the neck muscles are overstretched or ached from environmental factors or traumatic injuries that cause the head and the neck muscles to whip back and forth rapidly, it can force individuals to deal with not only pain and discomfort from the neck but also the head and shoulders are affected as well. When this happens, many individuals try to find various relief methods to reduce the pain and its associated symptoms. Today’s articles look at how the pain symptoms are associated with the neck, how there are non-surgical treatments for neck pain, and how electroacupuncture can help restore neck function. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to understand better why they are experiencing neck pain. We also inform and guide patients on how non-surgical treatments like electroacupuncture can help restore neck function to the body. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about reducing the impact of neck pain while trying to incorporate various therapeutic reliefs into their bodies. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Are Pain Symptoms Associated with the Neck?
Do you experience stiffness or pain on your neck’s left or right side? Do you constantly get headaches that you have to lie in a dark room to reduce the pain? Or do you experience numbness or tingling sensations on your shoulders and arms? Many of these pain-like scenarios are associated with neck pain. Now similar to back pain, neck pain is a multifactorial musculoskeletal condition that can lead to a socio-economic burden that causes many people to have reduced productivity and job-related problems that can be an issue. (Kazeminasab et al., 2022) Neck pain can be in acute or chronic stages as multiple factors can play the developmental part of neck pain. Some of the environmental factors and traumatic injuries associated with neck pain include:
Poor posture
Whiplash
Degenerative issues
Slouching/hunching position
Sprains or strains
Spinal fractures
When these environmental and traumatic injury factors start to cause issues in the neck region of the body, they can cause pain-like symptoms.
So, how is pain associated with the neck? Well, many individuals dealing with neck pain can either have specific or non-specific neck pain with various symptoms depending on the severity of the pain. While specific neck pain deals with the cervical spine, non-specific neck pain deals with the surrounding muscles and ligaments. To that point, many individuals who are dealing with neck pain are also experiencing somatic referred pain and radicular pain that is associated with neurological signs that make a diagnosis difficult to classify. (Misailidou et al., 2010) This can cause many individuals to experience referred pain in their shoulders and arms or have neurological issues like headaches and tension within their upper body regions, which then causes personal discomfort, disability, and impaired quality of life. (Ben Ayed et al., 2019) But all is not lost, as many individuals seek treatment to reduce the effects of neck pain.
Movement As Medicine- Video
Non-Surgical Treatments For Neck Pain
When it comes to reducing neck pain from environmental factors or traumatic injuries, many people will seek treatments that are affordable and effective in not only decreasing neck pain but also its associated pain-like symptoms. Non-surgical treatments are an excellent way to reduce the effects of neck pain, and they can be combined with other therapies. Some of the non-surgical treatments that are suitable for neck pain include:
Chiropractic care
Acupuncture
Electroacupuncture
Spinal decompression
Massage therapy
Physical therapy
Many individuals dealing with acute neck pain can incorporate non-surgical treatments since they are not only effective through consecutive treatment but are affordable as well. (Chou et al., 2020) This allows many individuals to be more mindful of what factors affect the neck and make small changes to prevent them from returning.
Electroacupuncture Restoring Neck Function
One of the oldest forms of non-surgical treatment is through acupuncture, which originates from China and is performed by highly trained professionals. Depending on how severe the pain is in the neck, many individuals seek out acupuncture therapy or electroacupuncture to reduce the pain. The difference between the two is that acupuncture incorporates thin, solid needles to the specific acupoints in the body that involve the central nervous system. In contrast, electroacupuncture incorporates electric stimulation to become a transformation of energy to block the pain signals that are causing pain in the neck region. (Liu et al., 2022)
Additionally, when the cervical area of the spine has been affected by traumatic forces, it can cause the neck to lose functionality. So, when people incorporate electroacupuncture to restore neck functionality, it has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that regulate the endocannabinoid system. (Wang et al., 2021) This means that the pain receptors from the nerve roots are blocked, and relief forms in the neck. Depending on the severity, many people with neck pain can utilize electroacupuncture consecutively to regain neck mobility and reduce the pain-like effects that are causing them to be miserable. When people think about their health and wellness, they can make small changes to reduce their environmental factors and start living life to the fullest extent possible.
References
Ben Ayed, H., Yaich, S., Trigui, M., Ben Hmida, M., Ben Jemaa, M., Ammar, A., Jedidi, J., Karray, R., Feki, H., Mejdoub, Y., Kassis, M., & Damak, J. (2019). Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Neck, Shoulders and Low-Back Pain in Secondary-School Children. J Res Health Sci, 19(1), e00440. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31133629
Chou, R., Wagner, J., Ahmed, A. Y., Blazina, I., Brodt, E., Buckley, D. I., Cheney, T. P., Choo, E., Dana, T., Gordon, D., Khandelwal, S., Kantner, S., McDonagh, M. S., Sedgley, C., & Skelly, A. C. (2020). In Treatments for Acute Pain: A Systematic Review. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33411426
Kazeminasab, S., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Amiri, P., Pourfathi, H., Araj-Khodaei, M., Sullman, M. J. M., Kolahi, A. A., & Safiri, S. (2022). Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 26. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
Liu, R., Li, S., Liu, Y., He, M., Cao, J., Sun, M., Duan, C., & Li, T. (2022). Acupuncture Analgesia in Patients with Postoperative Neck Pain: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2022, 1226702. doi.org/10.1155/2022/1226702
Misailidou, V., Malliou, P., Beneka, A., Karagiannidis, A., & Godolias, G. (2010). Assessment of patients with neck pain: a review of definitions, selection criteria, and measurement tools. J Chiropr Med, 9(2), 49-59. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2010.03.002
Wang, J., Zhang, J., Gao, Y., Chen, Y., Duanmu, C., & Liu, J. (2021). Electroacupuncture Alleviates Hyperalgesia by Regulating CB1 Receptor of Spinal Cord in Incisional Neck Pain Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2021, 5880690. doi.org/10.1155/2021/5880690
Can individuals with low back pain use electroacupuncture therapy to reduce pain and restore mobility back to their bodies?
Introduction
Many people worldwide have dealt with low back pain from numerous factors and traumatic injuries that can cause pain-like symptoms around the spinal discs, muscles, ligaments, and nerve roots. This is because the body goes through repetitive motions that cause the surrounding muscles and ligaments to be overstretched and tight, aggravating the nerve roots and causing referred pain. Or it can be traumatic injuries that affect the spinal discs in the lumbar region that can become herniated or degenerate to aggravate the nerve roots and lead to low extremity pain. Regardless of the outcome, low back pain is a common musculoskeletal problem, and many people will often seek treatment to reduce its pain-like effects and help many people have their mobility restored. Today’s article examines why low back pain is a global issue, how electroacupuncture can help reduce it, and how it can regain mobility. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to understand better why low back pain is an issue in their bodies. We also inform and guide patients on how electroacupuncture therapy can help reduce low back pain and even help with restoring body mobility. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about reducing the impact of low back pain and find various therapies to incorporate. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Why Low Back Pain Is A Global Issue?
Do you feel stiffness in your lower back after carrying or lifting a heavy object? Do you feel radiating pain traveling down to your legs? Or do you feel muscle aches in your lower back from being hunched for an extended period? Many of these pain-like issues are correlated with environmental factors that can cause the body to develop low back pain. When it comes to low back pain, it is a socio-economic issue that globally impacts many individuals, especially working individuals. When many people do various motions or perform tasks, these motions can gradually loosen the ligaments in the lower back. This causes the body to sense that something is wrong with the lower back and the vital structures of the spine, thus adopting other methods to maintain the spine’s stability. (Hauser et al., 2022)
Additionally, most low back pain symptoms are nonspecific, and motions of heavy lifting, bending, twisting, and whole-body vibrations are occupational risk factors that lead to the development of low back pain. (Becker & Childress, 2019) This causes many people with low back pain to deal with the burden of missing work or putting a hold on their daily routine. When this happens, many individuals begin to seek treatment to reduce the symptoms caused by low back pain.
Unlocking Pain Relief- Video
Electroacupuncture For Low Back Pain
When it comes to reducing low back pain, many individuals will go to various treatments to relieve the pain in their lower back and their associated symptoms. Hence, this is why non-surgical treatments like electroacupuncture can help alleviate lower back pain and help the lower extremities regain mobility. Electroacupuncture is another form of acupuncture that uses electric stimulation on the body’s acupoints to block pain signals. Electroacupuncture has been widely used for musculoskeletal disorders, including low back pain, as they have been used as a therapeutic option to reduce medication usage while being an effective option when combined with other therapies. (Sung et al., 2021)
Additionally, electroacupuncture is performed by highly trained professionals and, when being used to treat low back pain, allows stimulation on large areas of the body that are around the acupoint to allow parameters that include the intensity, duration, and frequency to enable the pain to the location to be identified by health care professionals. (Francescato Torres et al., 2019) Electroacupuncture can help reduce the pain in the lower back and support many individuals through various techniques to restore mobility. (Kong, 2020)
Electroacupuncture Restoring Mobility
When restoring body mobility from low back pain, electroacupuncture can provide therapeutic effects by blocking the pain signals, causing the body to be immobile, and allowing the muscles to relax. (Sheng et al., 2021) Electroacupuncture combined with other therapies like physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the surrounding back muscles and ligaments to reduce the aggravating pain affecting mobility and make many people more mindful of what motions are causing low back pain. When people start making small or big changes to their health and wellness, they will begin to notice how they carry themselves while preventing the same repetitive motions that are causing their lower back issues and living healthier lives.
References
Becker, B. A., & Childress, M. A. (2019). Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Return To Work. American Family Physician, 100(11), 697-703. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31790184
Francescato Torres, S., Brandt de Macedo, A. C., Dias Antunes, M., Merllin Batista de Souza, I., Dimitre Rodrigo Pereira Santos, F., de Sousa do Espirito Santo, A., Ribeiro Jacob, F., Torres Cruz, A., de Oliveira Januario, P., & Pasqual Marques, A. (2019). Effects of electroacupuncture frequencies on chronic low back pain in older adults: triple-blind, 12-months protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 20(1), 762. doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3813-6
Hauser, R. A., Matias, D., Woznica, D., Rawlings, B., & Woldin, B. A. (2022). Lumbar instability as an etiology of low back pain and its treatment by prolotherapy: A review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 35(4), 701-712. doi.org/10.3233/BMR-210097
Kong, J. T. (2020). Electroacupuncture for Treating Chronic Low-Back Pain: Preliminary Research Results. Med Acupunct, 32(6), 396-397. doi.org/10.1089/acu.2020.1495
Sheng, X., Yue, H., Zhang, Q., Chen, D., Qiu, W., Tang, J., Fan, T., Gu, J., Jiang, B., Qiu, M., & Chen, L. (2021). Efficacy of electroacupuncture in patients with failed back surgery syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 22(1), 702. doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05652-4
Sung, W. S., Park, J. R., Park, K., Youn, I., Yeum, H. W., Kim, S., Choi, J., Cho, Y., Hong, Y., Park, Y., Kim, E. J., & Nam, D. (2021). The effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for nonspecific chronic low back pain: A protocol for systematic review and/or meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore), 100(4), e24281. doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000024281
Can individuals dealing with various musculoskeletal pain incorporate the positive benefits of electroacupuncture to restore function?
Introduction
As the world changes and more people try to make small changes to their health and well-being, they won’t experience pain or discomfort. Numerous treatments help many people dealing with various musculoskeletal pain that are associated with environmental factors. The human body has multiple muscle groups in the upper and lower body portions that protect the spinal structure and vital organs. When environmental factors correlate with pain and discomfort, it can significantly impact a person’s daily routine. At the same time, musculoskeletal pain can lead to referred pain-like symptoms that many individuals are experiencing pain in two different body locations. However, when the pain becomes unbearable, many will seek various treatment options to not only reduce the pain but also restore body functionality. Today’s article looks at the multiple factors of musculoskeletal pain, treatments like electroacupuncture that reduce musculoskeletal pain, and the benefits of electroacupuncture. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how various factors can contribute to musculoskeletal pain in the body. We also inform and guide patients on how electroacupuncture therapy can help reduce the pain effects of musculoskeletal pain and help improve body functionality. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about how to reduce the impact of musculoskeletal pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Various Factors That Correlate With Musculoskeletal Pain
Have you been dealing with areas of complaints within your neck, shoulders, or back after a long day? Do you feel numb or tingling in your upper and lower extremities? Or have you experienced muscle and joint pain that makes it difficult to do your daily routine? When it comes to many individuals experiencing musculoskeletal pain in their bodies can dampen their day due to how much pain they are in. Musculoskeletal pain is a multifactorial condition involving various environmental factors that many people in society have experienced. (Caneiro et al., 2021) Musculoskeletal pain can be chronic or acute depending on the ecological factors or traumatic injuries that the body occurs from and can affect not only the muscles but also the bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerve roots that provide sensory-motor functions that make the body mobile.
Some environmental factors that contribute to the development of musculoskeletal pain include:
Excessive sitting/standing
Fractures
Poor posture
Joint dislocation
Stress
Obesity
Repetitive movements
Additionally, many individuals dealing with musculoskeletal pain can be problematic when pain and chronic diseases could be predisposed, causing many people to deal with comorbidities, thus increasing their chances of being an issue. (Dzakpasu et al., 2021) Plus, when people are dealing with musculoskeletal pain, it can vary from person to person and can have a huge negative effect on their mental health. (Welsh et al., 2020) This is because many people are dealing with referred pain and their associated pain-like symptoms that they will try home remedies to reduce the musculoskeletal pain temporarily before making the repetitive motions again and being in more pain. To that point, many individuals will often seek various treatments to relieve musculoskeletal pain and restore their body function.
Optimize Your Wellness- Video
The Benefits of Electroacupuncture
When it comes to reducing and treating musculoskeletal pain, many individuals seek out non-surgical treatments to relieve the pain-like symptoms. Non-surgical treatments are excellent for musculoskeletal pain as they can be personalized to the person’s pain and can be cost-effective. Non-surgical treatments range from chiropractic care to acupuncture. One of the various forms of non-surgical treatments is electroacupuncture therapy. Electroacupuncture therapy incorporates the application of electric and acupuncture stimulation to relieve acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain. (Lee et al., 2020) This therapy can activate the bioactive chemicals and block the pain signals from affecting the body.
Additionally, electroacupuncture can be effective and benefit the body by reducing neuropathic pain associated with musculoskeletal. Electroacupuncture provides additional benefits by stimulating the neurotransmitters from the central nervous system to minimize nociceptive pain caused by musculoskeletal pain. (Xue et al., 2020)
So, regarding musculoskeletal pain, electroacupuncture could be the answer to reducing its comorbidities. When a person is experiencing musculoskeletal pain, the affected areas where the pain is located can be inflamed. So when highly trained acupuncturists find the acupoints of the body and utilize electroacupuncture, the stimulation intensity varies from person to person. High-intensity stimulation activates the sympathetic nervous system, while low-intensity stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system. (Ulloa, 2021) Electroacupuncture can even help improve muscle function in the musculoskeletal extremities by relieving pain and adjusting the biomechanical properties to improve abnormal joint loading. (Shi et al., 2020) When people think about their health, they can consider electroacupuncture as part of their health and wellness routine to improve body functionality and live pain-free lives.
References
Caneiro, J. P., Bunzli, S., & O’Sullivan, P. (2021). Beliefs about the body and pain: the critical role in musculoskeletal pain management. Braz J Phys Ther, 25(1), 17-29. doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.06.003
Dzakpasu, F. Q. S., Carver, A., Brakenridge, C. J., Cicuttini, F., Urquhart, D. M., Owen, N., & Dunstan, D. W. (2021). Musculoskeletal pain and sedentary behaviour in occupational and non-occupational settings: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act, 18(1), 159. doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01191-y
Lee, Y. J., Han, C. H., Jeon, J. H., Kim, E., Kim, J. Y., Park, K. H., Kim, A. R., Lee, E. J., & Kim, Y. I. (2020). Effectiveness and safety of polydioxanone thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) and electroacupuncture (EA) treatment for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with postoperative pain: An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled pilot trial. Medicine (Baltimore), 99(30), e21184. doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000021184
Shi, X., Yu, W., Wang, T., Battulga, O., Wang, C., Shu, Q., Yang, X., Liu, C., & Guo, C. (2020). Electroacupuncture alleviates cartilage degradation: Improvement in cartilage biomechanics via pain relief and potentiation of muscle function in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis. Biomed Pharmacother, 123, 109724. doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109724
Ulloa, L. (2021). Electroacupuncture activates neurons to switch off inflammation. Nature, 598(7882), 573-574. doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02714-0
Welsh, T. P., Yang, A. E., & Makris, U. E. (2020). Musculoskeletal Pain in Older Adults: A Clinical Review. Med Clin North Am, 104(5), 855-872. doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2020.05.002
Xue, M., Sun, Y. L., Xia, Y. Y., Huang, Z. H., Huang, C., & Xing, G. G. (2020). Electroacupuncture Modulates Spinal BDNF/TrkappaB Signaling Pathway and Ameliorates the Sensitization of Dorsal Horn WDR Neurons in Spared Nerve Injury Rats. Int J Mol Sci, 21(18). doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186524
Can individuals dealing with gut inflammation find relief from acupuncture therapy to reduce associated pain symptoms like back pain?
Introduction
When many start thinking about their health and well-being, they will notice the various factors negatively affecting their daily routine. Environmental factors or traumatic injuries can cause an impact on the person’s body, which then causes musculoskeletal issues as well as organ issues. One of the pain-like issues that many people seem to deal with is gut inflammation, and it can cause a cascading effect on the body and lead to referred pain in the upper and lower body portions. This can affect a person’s daily routine and cause overlapping risk profiles, leading to musculoskeletal conditions like back pain. At the same time, gut inflammation can be in acute or chronic stages and become an issue for people with pre-existing conditions. Luckily, numerous treatments reduce gut inflammation associated with back pain and provide a positive impact on individuals. Today’s article looks at the effect of gut inflammation on the body, how gut inflammation correlates with back pain, and how acupuncture therapy can help reduce gut inflammation. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how gut inflammation is impacting their bodies and how it correlates with back pain. We also inform and guide patients on how acupuncture therapy can help reduce the inflammatory effects that are causing gut and back issues. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about how their pain is causing issues to their bodies. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Effects Of Gut Inflammation On The Body
Do you feel extremely tired in the morning, even after a full night? Have you experienced any soreness or tenderness in your gut or different back portions? Or do you experience any muscle aches or joint stiffness throughout your lower back? When people are experiencing these inflammatory issues, it could be due to their gut system feeling these pain-like issues. The gut system is in a relationship with the central nervous system as it is part of the gut-brain axis and helps the autonomic system actively influence the immune system. This allows the musculoskeletal system to promote normal body function. When environmental factors or traumatic injuries start to negatively affect the gut-brain axis and cause the immune system to mass produce inflammatory cytokines and cortisol to cause musculoskeletal and gut issues. The inflammatory effects of the gut system cause impairments within the intestinal barrier function and the translocation of the gut microbes and even promote the hyper-activation of the mucosal immune system to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that fuel gut inflammation. (Amoroso et al., 2020) When that happens, it can have a major impact on the immune system, and where the gut microbiota can be triggered by environmental factors like metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type-2 diabetes, which has detrimental consequences for the human body. (Scheithauer et al., 2020) What this does to the body is that gut inflammation can affect the immune system, vital organs, and the musculoskeletal system.
Gut Inflammation Correlates With Back Pain
So, back pain usually follows when many individuals have gut issues associated with environmental factors. When the intestinal permeability in the gut starts to deal with inflammation, all the bacteria and the cytokines from the immune system will rapidly produce and travel their way to the various muscles, tissues, and ligaments that start to be affected. Since back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition many people endure, gut inflammation can also be present. Since the bacterial microbes and inflammatory cytokines are reaching the spine’s back muscles and skeletal structures, they can start causing degenerative issues, leading to back pain. The skeletal structure of the spine has facet joints, spinal discs, and bones that protect the spinal cord and can also be affected by gut inflammation. The blood-disc barrier within the spine protects the spinal disc from inflammatory effects that may invoke musculoskeletal issues. However, when the bacterial microbes from the gut start to attach and break down the blood-disc barrier, they can rapidly multiply since the immune system surveillance is unavailable, causing low oxygen levels to degenerate the spinal discs and causing back pain issues. (Ratna et al., 2023) At the same time, environmental factors also play an issue in the development of back pain associated with gut inflammation. Luckily, numerous treatments can help not only reduce gut inflammation but also provide pain relief to back pain.
Fighting Inflammation Naturally- Video
Have you been dealing with various mood changes affecting your daily routine? Do you feel constantly sluggish or tired throughout the day? Or do you feel aches and pains in your mid-section and lower back? Many people experiencing these pain-like issues in their bodies are dealing with gut inflammation that is affecting their backs. When environmental factors start to cause an overproduction of bacterial microbes in the intestinal permeability, the inflammatory cytokines begin to induce inflammation in the musculoskeletal system. This can lead to the development of back pain and cause issues to the body when it is not treated right away. This is where various treatments help reduce the inflammatory effects of the gut system and help reduce numerous issues it has caused. Many treatments are non-surgical and customizable to individuals dealing with gut inflammation associated with back pain. The video above shows how non-surgical treatments can help reduce inflammation naturally and benefit many people dealing with gut inflammation.
Acupuncture Reducing Gut Inflammation
Various non-surgical treatments can range from traction therapy to chiropractic care, depending on the pain severity and environmental factors causing the issue. For gut inflammation, many individuals might try acupuncture, one of the oldest forms of non-surgical treatment that can help reduce inflammatory cytokines. Acupuncture originates from China and is used by highly trained medical professionals who use fine, solid, thin needles to be placed on various body acupoints to restore body energy. Acupuncture can also serve as a multifaceted regulatory therapy that involves multiple therapeutic mechanisms to regulate the HPA axis and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines levels. (Landgraaf et al., 2023) At the same time, acupuncture can help recover gastrointestinal dysfunction from various gut disorders by blocking the brain’s neuron signals that are causing inflammatory responses to the gut and musculoskeletal system. (Jang et al., 2020). Acupuncture can also be combined with other non-surgical therapies to help improve body functionality, as acupuncturists find the acupoints within the body to regulate the intestinal microbiota and inflammation, thus regulating the central nervous system function to enhance a person’s quality of life. (Bao et al., 2022) By incorporating acupuncture as part of a person’s health and well-being, many people can make small changes in their daily routine to reduce gut inflammation from overproducing and prevent their associated comorbidities from returning.
References
Amoroso, C., Perillo, F., Strati, F., Fantini, M. C., Caprioli, F., & Facciotti, F. (2020). The Role of Gut Microbiota Biomodulators on Mucosal Immunity and Intestinal Inflammation. Cells, 9(5). doi.org/10.3390/cells9051234
Bao, C., Wu, L., Wang, D., Chen, L., Jin, X., Shi, Y., Li, G., Zhang, J., Zeng, X., Chen, J., Liu, H., & Wu, H. (2022). Acupuncture improves the symptoms, intestinal microbiota, and inflammation of patients with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease: A randomized controlled trial. EClinicalMedicine, 45, 101300. doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101300
Jang, J. H., Yeom, M. J., Ahn, S., Oh, J. Y., Ji, S., Kim, T. H., & Park, H. J. (2020). Acupuncture inhibits neuroinflammation and gut microbial dysbiosis in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Brain Behav Immun, 89, 641-655. doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.08.015
Landgraaf, R. G., Bloem, M. N., Fumagalli, M., Benninga, M. A., de Lorijn, F., & Nieuwdorp, M. (2023). Acupuncture as multi-targeted therapy for the multifactorial disease obesity: a complex neuro-endocrine-immune interplay. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 14, 1236370. doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1236370
Ratna, H. V. K., Jeyaraman, M., Yadav, S., Jeyaraman, N., & Nallakumarasamy, A. (2023). Is Dysbiotic Gut the Cause of Low Back Pain? Cureus, 15(7), e42496. doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42496
Scheithauer, T. P. M., Rampanelli, E., Nieuwdorp, M., Vallance, B. A., Verchere, C. B., van Raalte, D. H., & Herrema, H. (2020). Gut Microbiota as a Trigger for Metabolic Inflammation in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Front Immunol, 11, 571731. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.571731
Can individuals with jaw pain find relief in acupuncture therapy to reduce pain and improve jaw mobility in the upper body portions?
Introduction
The head is part of the upper musculoskeletal body quadrant supported by the neck area, which consists of the skull, various muscles, and vital organs that provide stability, mobility, and functionality. Around the head, the different facial features include the mouth, nose, eyes, and jaw to allow the host to eat, speak, smell, and see. While the head provides sensory and motor function, the neck includes motor stability to ensure no injuries or trauma affect the head. Located below the eyes is the jaw, which allows motor function with various muscles and joints to hyperextend without pain or discomfort. However, multiple factors can affect the jaw muscles and joints to invoke pain and discomfort, which can cause radiating referred pain down to the neck muscles. Today’s article looks at how jaw pain can affect the upper body, how non-surgical treatments can help with jaw pain, and how treatments like acupuncture can help restore jaw mobility. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide treatments to reduce jaw pain affecting their jaw and neck area. We also inform and guide patients on how acupuncture and non-surgical treatments can benefit many individuals with pain correlating with the jaw. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about how their pain affects their quality of life and reduces jaw pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Jaw Pain Affecting The Upper Body
Do you feel muscle soreness in your jaw and neck muscles throughout the day? Have you constantly rubbed or massaged your jaw muscles to reduce tension? Or have you been dealing with headaches or neck pain continually that affects your daily routine? Many individuals experiencing these pain-like symptoms are dealing with jaw pain or TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome). The jaw consists of mastication muscles on each side that help provide various functions like chewing, swallowing, or talking. When multiple traumatic or ordinary factors start to affect the jaw, it can disrupt the sensory-motor function of the upper body. For individuals, jaw pain is common worldwide, and with TMJ, it can become an issue as the pain seems to affect the jaw’s motor control while being accompanied by restricted mouth opening and impaired max bite force. (Al Sayegh et al., 2019) Additionally, TMJ affects not only the mastication muscles but also the temporomandibular joint, the joint that connects the jaw to the skull, which becomes inflamed and causes more issues.
So, how would TMJ affect the upper body? Well, when TMJ affects the mastication muscles and the temporomandibular joint, many individuals will experience various symptoms like:
Difficulty moving mouth when chewing
Popping/cracking sensation when opening or closing the jaw
Headaches/Migraines
Ear pain
Tooth pain
Neck and shoulder pain
This causes myofascial and intraarticular disorders that affect the muscles and joints of the jaw, which are linked to the skull. (Maini & Dua, 2024) To that point, many individuals will be experiencing referred pain, thinking they are dealing with a toothache when it is due to trigger points in the mastication muscles. This is when TMJ is accompanied by muscle-joint pain in the neck or upper back or if teeth issues accompany TMJ, but it depends on the individual and situation they are under. However, numerous treatments can reduce jaw pain and its associated symptoms that affect the jaw and the neck.
The Non-Surgical Approach To Wellness- Video
Non-Surgical Treatments For Jaw Pain
When reducing jaw pain, many individuals seek treatment to minimize the pain-like effects and regain mobility back to their jaws. It can be challenging and complex when people are dealing with jaw pain. It is a multifactorial issue that can affect the neck and back areas. So, when people speak with their primary doctors about their jaw pain, they will get an evaluation of where their pain is located and if they have any complaints correlating with the jaw pain. Afterward, many doctors will refer to musculoskeletal specialists to relieve the jaws’ pain. Treatments and techniques used by chiropractors, massage therapists, and physiotherapists can help ease the inflamed and tense mastication muscles. Techniques like soft tissue mobilization can help relax the masticatory muscles by lengthening them to the extent of releasing the trigger points in the muscles. (Kuc et al., 2020) At the same time, physiotherapy can help the jaw muscle through various relaxing techniques to increase the range of motion while strengthening the jaw to reduce pain and stress. (Byra et al., 2020) Many of these treatments are non-surgical, which means they are non-invasive and effective for the person’s pain while affordable.
Acupuncture To Restore Jaw Mobility
When it comes to non-surgical treatments, one of the oldest forms is acupuncture, which can help reduce the pain-like effects of jaw pain and restore mobility. Acupuncture originates from China, and highly trained medical professionals use thin, solid needles to be placed in acupoints on the body to disrupt the pain signal and provide relief. For jaw pain, acupuncturists will put needles on the acupoints of the jaw or the surrounding muscles to reduce mechanical hypersensitivity of the nerve cells that are causing pain while improving the sensory-motor function with a positive response. (Teja & Nareswari, 2021) Additionally, when dealing with ear pain associated with TMJ affecting the neck muscles, acupuncture can help enhance the neck’s range of motion by placing the needles on the trigger points of the cervical muscles. (Sajadi et al., 2019) When acupuncture treatment helps many individuals with jaw pain affecting their necks and heads, they can provide beneficial, positive results through consecutive treatment and improve jaw mobility function.
References
Al Sayegh, S., Borgwardt, A., Svensson, K. G., Kumar, A., Grigoriadis, A., & Christidis, N. (2019). Effects of Chronic and Experimental Acute Masseter Pain on Precision Biting Behavior in Humans. Front Physiol, 10, 1369. doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01369
Byra, J., Kulesa-Mrowiecka, M., & Pihut, M. (2020). Physiotherapy in hypomobility of temporomandibular joints. Folia Med Cracov, 60(2), 123-134. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33252600
Kuc, J., Szarejko, K. D., & Golebiewska, M. (2020). Evaluation of Soft Tissue Mobilization in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorder-Myofascial Pain with Referral. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17(24). doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249576
Sajadi, S., Forogh, B., & ZoghAli, M. (2019). Cervical Trigger Point Acupuncture for Treatment of Somatic Tinnitus. J Acupunct Meridian Stud, 12(6), 197-200. doi.org/10.1016/j.jams.2019.07.004
Teja, Y., & Nareswari, I. (2021). Acupuncture Therapies for Addressing Post Odontectomy Neuropathy. Med Acupunct, 33(5), 358-363. doi.org/10.1089/acu.2020.1472
Can individuals dealing with headaches find the relief they are looking for from acupuncture to reduce pain-like symptoms?
Introduction
As part of the musculoskeletal system, the neck is part of the upper body portions and allows the head to be mobile through full rotations without pain and discomfort. The surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons help protect the cervical spinal region and have a fantastic relationship with the shoulders. However, the neck area can succumb to injuries, leading to pain-like symptoms that can cause pain and discomfort in the upper regions. One of the pain-like symptoms that correlates with neck pain is headaches. Headaches can vary in acute to chronic stages as they affect many individuals and the various factors that correlate with them. When headaches start to form, many individuals will look at multiple treatments to reduce the pain-like symptoms that correlate with headaches and have the relief they deserve. Today’s article looks at the various factors that correlate with headaches, how headaches cause overlapping risk profiles with neck pain, and how treatments like acupuncture can reduce headaches. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide treatments like acupuncture to minimize headaches. We also inform and guide patients on how acupuncture can benefit many individuals dealing with neck pain associated with headaches. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about their pain-like symptoms that correlate with headaches and neck pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Various Factors Correlating Headaches
Have you been experiencing tension around the back of your neck after a long day? Do you feel a dull ache after staring at the computer or phone screen? Or do you feel a pounding sensation that you must lie down for a few minutes? Many of these pain-like scenarios are associated with headaches that affect many individuals from time to time. Headaches are correlated with various biochemical and metabolic risk profiles or changes that cause central sensitization and neuronal dysfunction. (Walling, 2020) This causes many individuals to develop acute or chronic pain-like symptoms that affect their heads and various locations around the face and the neck area. Some of the multiple factors that can lead to the development of headaches include:
Stress
Allergies
Tension
Inability to sleep
Lack of water and food
Traumatic injuries
Bright strobing lights
Additionally, other factors like obesity can become a strong risk factor for secondary headaches like migraines to have symptoms of intracranial hypertension impact the body. (Fortini & Felsenfeld Junior, 2022) This could lead to the development of neck pain caused by headaches.
Headaches & Neck Pain
When it comes to headaches associated with neck pain, many individuals will experience tension and pain in the surrounding muscles and the ongoing symptoms. Neck pain can cause overlapping risk profiles to muscles, ligaments, facet joints, and visceral structures of the neck that can trigger the development of a headache or become a symptom that co-exists with a neck disorder. (Vicente et al., 2023) Additionally, neck pain and headaches are strongly associated as muscular pain plays a role in headache development as they provide negative consequences within their social lives. Headaches can hinder a person’s ability to concentrate, while neck pain causes limited mobility and stiffness. (Rodriguez-Almagro et al., 2020)
Tension Headaches Overview- Video
Acupuncture Reducing Headaches
When individuals are dealing with headaches, many will incorporate home remedies to reduce the tension they are experiencing from the various factors. This can provide temporary relief to mitigate the effects of the pain-like symptoms associated with headaches. However, when the pain from headaches becomes unbearable with neck pain in the mix, that is where non-surgical treatments could be the answer. Non-surgical treatments are effective on pain caused by headaches and customized to the person’s pain. For example, acupuncture could help with headaches and neck pain. Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of non-surgical treatments; highly trained professionals use solid thin needles to be placed in various acupoints in the body to restore energy flow and reducing pain associated with headaches. (Turkistani et al., 2021)
Acupuncture can even help reduce the frequency and duration of headaches while disrupting the pain signals and help provide insight into the positive effects of pain reduction. (Li et al., 2020) When people start incorporating acupuncture as part of their health and wellness treatment plan, they will feel their headaches reduced and their neck mobility back to normal. Through consecutive treatment, they will feel much better and become more aware of the various factors pertaining to headache production while making small changes to reduce their chances of returning.
Li, Y. X., Xiao, X. L., Zhong, D. L., Luo, L. J., Yang, H., Zhou, J., He, M. X., Shi, L. H., Li, J., Zheng, H., & Jin, R. J. (2020). Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture for Migraine: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Pain Res Manag, 2020, 3825617. doi.org/10.1155/2020/3825617
Rodriguez-Almagro, D., Achalandabaso-Ochoa, A., Molina-Ortega, F. J., Obrero-Gaitan, E., Ibanez-Vera, A. J., & Lomas-Vega, R. (2020). Neck Pain- and Unsteadiness-Inducing Activities and their Relationship to the Presence, Intensity, Frequency, and Disability of Headaches. Brain Sci, 10(7). doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10070425
Turkistani, A., Shah, A., Jose, A. M., Melo, J. P., Luenam, K., Ananias, P., Yaqub, S., & Mohammed, L. (2021). Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Acupuncture in Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 13(8), e17601. doi.org/10.7759/cureus.17601
Vicente, B. N., Oliveira, R., Martins, I. P., & Gil-Gouveia, R. (2023). Cranial Autonomic Symptoms and Neck Pain in Differential Diagnosis of Migraine. Diagnostics (Basel), 13(4). doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13040590
Walling, A. (2020). Frequent Headaches: Evaluation and Management. American Family Physician, 101(7), 419-428. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32227826
For fitness and sports enthusiasts, weekend warriors, and athletes looking to improve physical performance, can incorporating acupuncture for sports performance be effective?
Acupuncture For Sports Performance
Acupuncture for sports performance follows the same needle insertion for specific points to treat pain symptoms, alleviate inflammation and fatigue, and enhance blood circulation to improve physical and athletic performance. Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine principles that focus on restoring the balance of the nervous system and body to activate natural healing and increase energy circulation. (Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2024).
Acupuncture has become a popular alternative treatment for sports injuries as it has shown positive outcomes and recovery from injuries. (George G. A. Pujalte et al., 2023)
The body’s blood and energy pathways, known as meridians, become blocked by inflammation because of illness, injury, or overuse, resulting in pain, stress, and various symptoms. The acupuncture needles stimulate the pathways to clear the blockages, allowing optimal circulation of energy and blood to reduce inflammation and restore balance. (Jiajie Zhu et al., 2021)
Sports acupuncture works by maintaining optimal circulation of blood and energy through meridians through the arteries, tendons, muscles, and organs for enhanced productivity and ability. (Liang Kang et al., 2021)
Electroacupuncture involves connecting electrical stimulation from a tens machine to specific points over an area to enhance the needle treatment. (Keitaro Kubo et al., 2020)
Acupuncture Can Help
Ways that acupuncture can help include:
Increase Range of Motion
Acupuncture can help loosen tight muscles, tendons, and ligaments overused during training or games.(Chi-Tsai Tang, 2023)
This allows athletes to perform at peak levels without risking worsening or causing further injury.
Increase Flexibility
Acupuncture helps increase elasticity in joints by releasing adhesions within connective tissue for increased mobility.
Improve Reflexes
Targeting key points stimulates nerve activity, which can improve quicker reflexes and improve coordination.(Chi-Tsai Tang, Bo Song. 2022)
Increase Circulation
Acupuncture increases blood circulation to areas lacking oxygen.
Acupuncture releases endorphins, which reduce pain and also provide an overall sense of calmness and relaxation.
This enables athletes to stay focused and motivated throughout training and games. (Chi-Tsai Tang, 2023)
Reduce Fatigue
Regular acupuncture for sports performance can help maintain energy levels to help prevent burnout and maintain optimal performance during practice and games. (George G. A. Pujalte et al., 2023)
Relieve Muscle Tension
Acupuncture treatment can help relax tense muscles caused by repetitive use as well as from stress tension that could be caused by anxiety before a game or tournament.
For individuals who want to improve their physical performance, sports acupuncture can provide a natural, non-invasive alternative that can help improve athletic performance mentally and physically.
Lumbar Spine Injuries in Sports: Chiropractic Healing
Zhu, J., Li, J., Yang, L., & Liu, S. (2021). Acupuncture, from the ancient to the current. Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007), 304(11), 2365–2371. doi.org/10.1002/ar.24625
Kang, L., Liu, P., Peng, A., Sun, B., He, Y., Huang, Z., Wang, M., Hu, Y., & He, B. (2021). Application of traditional Chinese therapy in sports medicine. Sports medicine and health science, 3(1), 11–20. doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2021.02.006
Tang, C. T., & Song, B. (2022). Acupuncture and Dry Needling for Sports Performance and Recovery. Current sports medicine reports, 21(6), 213–218. doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000968
Kubo, K., Iizuka, Y., Yajima, H., Takayama, M., & Takakura, N. (2020). Changes in Blood Circulation of the Tendons and Heart Rate Variability During and After Acupuncture. Medical acupuncture, 32(2), 99–107. doi.org/10.1089/acu.2019.1397
Tang C. T. (2023). Practicing Outside the Lines: Using Acupuncture in the Athletic Training Room and on the Field. Medical acupuncture, 35(5), 266–269. doi.org/10.1089/acu.2023.0043
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