Trying Acupuncture for Back Pain? Use These Other Strategies, Too
If your back is constantly sore and you're eager to find a non-surgical solution, it may be time to consider acupuncture. This ancient medical approach is practiced in many health clinics in your area and can be helpful in treating a wide range of ailments, including back pain. It's important, however, to view acupuncture as just one step to take in alleviating this discomfort. In addition to attending regular acupuncture sessions, as needed, and following your practitioner's after-care instructions, here are some other strategies that you can use to keep this pain at bay.
Be Moderate With Your Exercise
Many health practitioners recommend exercise for back pain patients, so it's useful to check with your acupuncture practitioner about which exercises are healthy for your particular condition. In general, you'll want to take a moderate approach to physical exercise. Moderate activities are useful for getting your heart rate elevated and your muscles stretched, but more vigorous types of exercise may do more harm than good. For example, high-intensity aerobic workouts may cause a jarring impact that exacerbates the discomfort, and exercises in which you're constantly leaning forward, such as biking, might not be ideal.
Ask About Complementary Therapies
Each back pain case is different, so it's important to get as much information as possible from your acupuncture practitioner. In some cases, your practitioner will advocate that you seek out complementary therapies such as massage. In fact, the acupuncturist might work in a clinic with other health practitioners, which would allow you to book another appointment immediately before or after your acupuncture session. Sometimes, pairing these treatments can be immensely beneficial. For example, having a back massage before your acupuncture appointment can promote relaxation, which can improve the efficacy of your acupuncture session.
Make the Requested Lifestyle Changes
You can expect that your acupuncture practitioner will talk to you about the potential cause of your back pain and also identify some important changes that you can make. Taking ownership over your health can be an effective way to speed up the healing process. For example, if your acupuncturist is concerned about the amount of time that you spend seated at your desk during the workday, you can work to move around more throughout the day. Or, if your practitioner suggests that your weight may be contributing to your back pain, you can focus on improving your diet in an effort to shed some pounds.
For more suggestions on how to get the most out of you acupuncture treatments, talk to a specialist at West Omaha Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic.