Posts Tagged ‘neck and shoulder pain’
The Art of Electro-Acupuncture
Feb 6, 2012
The art of electro-acupuncture is in the details of how one uses the therapy. An effective electro-acupuncture treatment comes from what electric stimulation machine is used, proper selection of acupuncture points, how long you use the stimulation, and the proper frequency.
Acupuncture Microstim
Electro-acupuncture stimulator
In our New York City Acupuncture clinic, we use the Pantheon Research microstim machine. This is one the highest quality machines ensure a safe and effective treatment. Microstim means that the amplitude of the electric stimulation is much smaller. This is much more comfortable for the patient.
Acupuncture Point Selection
Selecting the best acupuncture points is important when using the electro-acupuncture. The acupuncture points should be chosen based upon the type of pain, the location of pain, and the muscle tightness.
This is particularly important when using acupuncture for shoulder pain. For example, if there is an acute shoulder pain with a tight knot on the corner of the shoulder blade or on the apex of the shoulder, then the leads can be placed on acupuncture points surround the area of pain.
If the spasm is very reactive to pressure, the muscle will resist too much stimulation. In that case, the leads should be placed on the acupuncture points along the effected acupuncture channel a little distance from the pain.
What is the optimal duration for electro-acupuncture?
The optimal time for electro acupuncture pain relief is 20 minutes. My preference is to perform electro acupuncture for 20 minutes. Afterwards, twirl the acupuncture needles to stimulate them and continue with 15 minutes more of regular acupuncture. This helps to get the pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects of both the electro acupuncture and regular acupuncture.
What is the best frequency for electro-acupuncture?
The lower frequencies of electo-acupuncture, such 2hz, 4 hz, or 10hz, can address both pain and inflammation. Most of the time, I use 4hz or 10hz, for most joint pain. These low frequencies can also be useful for insomnia and anxiety in some people.
Is there is chronic muscle tightness that is causing pain, the higher electro-acupuncture frequencies can sometime be effective. In my last post I wrote about electro-acupuncture for a patient with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome.
Neck and Shoulder Pain
Jan 23, 2012
Chronic neck and shoulder pain is a very common problem which can occur from overuse, injury, stress, or poor posture. Neck and shoulder pain is often treated with acupuncture (1, 2). Acupuncture treatment often leads to long term pain relief.
For most people, neck and shoulder pain develops over time. At one point, your body was healthy and pain free. However, an injury or chronic stress leads to the development of chronic pain. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work by bringing the body back to balance. By correcting the imbalance, acupuncture helps the body to heal.
Acupuncture Imbalances Causing Neck and Shoulder Pain
Acupuncture is based on a theory that the pain is caused by an imbalance. When it comes to muscle pain, the acupuncturist must determine if it is a condition of stagnation or deficiency. The treatment will be tailored to that diagnosis.
Stagnation occurs when there is a lack of circulation in the muscles. This impedes the circulation in the acupuncture channels and muscles, which leads to pain. A deficient condition is when there is not enough energy. Then the muscles do not have enough substance to support them, as a result they tense up.
There is an old acupuncture saying which states, “When there is movement, there is no pain. When there is no movement, there is pain.” When there is no circulation and the muscles are tight, pain occurs. This is often caused by stagnation.
Stagnation may develop from an injury, wear and tear, or chronic stress. Chronic stress is one of the most common causes of stagnation, which is why it is easy to develop pain and injuries during periods of high stress.
The other common issue with neck and shoulder pain is qi weakness, or too little energy. In this case, the acupuncture must focus on building up the energy to promote healing.
For an excess condition, your acupuncturist may use a stronger technique, and for a deficient condition, your acupuncturist may use a more gentle technique. If the deficiency is very extreme, then the treatment may be take a longer time.
Acupuncture Treatment for Neck and Shoulder Pain
A successful acupuncture treatment must match the correct identification of an imbalance. Often, the acupuncture treatment will involve acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and tui na.
For the imbalance of stagnation acupuncture points on the neck and shoulders such as Gallbladder 20, Gallbladder 21, Small Intestine 11, and Du 14 may be selected. When the root cause of the shoulder pain is an underlying weakness, then acupuncture points to boost up the qi should be used. These point could be Spleen 6, Kidney 3, and Liver 3. Patients often feel some relief after a few visits. A full treatment course may range from 4-10 visits depending on the severity and complexity of the pain.
Physiological, acupuncture works to reduce pain and inflammation through regulating neural pain pathways, stimulating the release of natural pain relieves in the body, such as opioids, as well as regulating pain relieving opioid receptors. Many studies have also shown acupuncture to have a anti-inflammatory effect, reducing the circulating inflammatory hormones in the blood (3).
Tui Na for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Tui Na, or Chinese medical massage, is also very helpful for treatment of shoulder pain. One of the most powerful and unique techniques in Tui Na is called the rolling technique, called gun fa in Chinese. This technique uses the back of the hand to roll over the muscles. Rolling technique is both soft and strong, allowing it to get deep into the muscle and help with relaxation.
If you push too hard on a muscle, the muscle will rebel. Instead of relaxing, it can become tighter. The rolling technique, because it is smooth, allows the use of strength while avoiding resistance within the muscle.
Treating the Whole Person
Acupuncture will address the whole person, not just the neck and shoulders.
The body is interconnected, tension from one area can create problems in other muscles. Often, trying to target and treat only the location of the pain does not relieve the tension in the surrounding muscle groups. This is particularly true when treating pain in the neck and shoulders. All of the muscles in the region need to be addressed.
Acupuncture helps to relax the body and the mind. Stress and pressure have a profound effect on neck pain development. The stress causes the muscles to become tense. The muscle tension then causes stress, creating a cycle. The acupuncture can help to break this cycle.
References:
1. Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Eisenberg DM, et.al. The Practice of Acupuncture: Who Are the Providers and What Do They Do? Ann Fam Med 2005;3:151-158.
2.National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Acupuncture for Pain. Accessed on 1/23/2012.
3. Napadow V, Ahn A, Longhurst J, et.al. The Status and Future of Acupuncture Mechanism Research. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 September; 14(7): 861–869.
written by: Joseph Alban
Last Edited: 1/23/2012
All About Acupuncture for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Jan 13, 2011
Over the years I have used acupuncture to treat many patients for neck and shoulder pain. My approach is unique assessing the strength of the energy and using acupuncture and acupressure to correct it.
Here are the best posts explaining the theory and treatment of acupuncture for neck and shoulder pain as well as stretches and exercises you can do at home.
How acupuncture works for Neck and Shoulder Pain
- Acupuncture to Relieve Neck and Back Pain
- Three Reasons Acupressure works to treat Neck and Back Pain
- Acupuncture for a Rotator Cuff Injury
- Acupuncture for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Stretches and Exercises for Shoulder and Neck Pain
- Exercises for Opening the Shoulder, Neck, and Rotator Cuff
- Five Essential Stretches for Neck and Shoulder Pain
- Ten Ways to Prevent Neck and Shoulder Pain
Success Stories
I would be happy to speak with you more about how acupuncture can help reduce your neck, back, and shoulder pain. Call 917-887-4946 or e-mail us to make an appointment.
Acupuncture for N.F.L. Players
Dec 6, 2010
Everyone in my New York Acupuncture clinic is talking about the article in last week’s New York Times.
This article tells how NFL players are now regularly using acupuncture to help heal from injuries and recover from their grueling schedule.
Many pro athletes are now using acupuncture as part of their health maintenance program. Acupuncture can help serious athletes by keeping muscles loose, decreasing inflammation, and increasing circulation. Of course, it also can treat specific ailments as well, like rotator cuff injuries, neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, and elbow pain.
photo: Willie Parker
Two Moms with Neck and Shoulder Pain
Nov 2, 2010
As a New York acupuncturist, I see a lot of different types of people with shoulder pain. Mothers, athletes, mature individuals, artists working on a draft board, and those stuck at their desks working on a computer. Continuing my series on neck and shoulder pain, I wanted to share a few success stories. Today I will write about two young mothers with shoulder pain and how their individualized treatment helped them feel better.
A young mother with shoulder pain
Young mothers are prone to shoulder pain from lifting babies, diaper bags, and strollers, not to mention the stress associated with being a mom. This woman was in her mid thirties with two small children. She developed nagging shoulder and neck pain, primarily on the right side, after her second child was born and has had it for about two years. Although it kept getting worse, she was ignoring it until the pain became constant. Her physician suggested she try acupuncture to stop the pain and prevent it from getting worse.
Overall, she was healthy, but experienced a lot of fatigued. She exercised regularly, ate healthy, tried to manage her stress with yoga class, exercising, and getting together with friends. When I gave her an examination her neck and shoulders were very tight. What was most telling was that her her pulse was fairly weak for a young healthy woman.
This showed that the root cause of the pain was too little energy, what we call qi deficiency. When there is too little energy, a successful treatment must focus on boosting and circulating the energy.
I recommended coming for weekly visits for 2 months. My acupuncture included the following acupuncture points: LI4, SJ 5, GB 20, GB 34, Liv 2, and Du 20. I also combined each acupuncture treatment with acupressure for neck and shoulder pain.
Results: The patient began to feel some relief after the second visit. After 4 visits the pain and stiffness was greatly reduced. And she reported feeling more energy and more relaxed. After the full treatment course she felt almost no pain, even when lifting or playing with her children. Following up after two months, she remained pain free, but decided to create a maintenance acupuncture schedule as a way to prevent the pain from returning and to help manage her stress.
A Second Mother Finds Relief
This patient developed shoulder pain after a few months after having her first child. The pain was quite intense directly on the top of the shoulder and up the entire left side of the neck. She also had tightness and difficulty looking to right side and looking up. It was very sensitive to touching and very tight. Lifting anything would exacerbate the pain. She had gone for other therapies but nothing helped.
Due to the tightness in the muscles, the intense pain, and the lack of motion in the neck, a stagnation was causing her problem. The acupuncture treatment had to move the stagnation in the channels in order to help relieve the pain.
I recommended weekly acupuncture for two months. The points included GB 20, GB 21, UB 15, UB 17, UB 19 on the back and shoulders and GB 34 and KI 3 on the legs. I also combined acupressure for the neck and shoulders to relieve the pain.
Results: To her surprise, she was feeling much relief after one visit. The years of seeing therapists had convinced her nothing could help. After 3 visits her range of motion returned to normal. And after 7 visits she was almost completely pain free.
Six months after the treatment some tightness and pain returned, especially after lifting or under stress. She returned for another short treatment of 3 visits and the pain was relieved.
Moms aren’t the only people who get shoulder pain. In my next post, I will discuss shoulder pain in a serious athlete.
To find out how acupuncture can help reduce your neck and shoulder pain, please call us at 917-887-4946 or e-mail us.
Read what our patients are saying about acupuncture for chronic neck and shoulder pain.
3 Reasons Acupressure Works for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Oct 28, 2010
Acupuncture for shoulder pain is most effective when it is combined with acupressure. Acupressure, also called Tui Na or Chinese medical massage, has a wide range of styles. I studied in China with Dr. Xiao, who was famous for his unique Tui Na technique. He focused on the rolling technique which has a particular ability to relieve shoulder pain.
Tui na, as part of Chinese medicine, uses massage techniques to stimulate acupuncture points and channels. Dr. Xiao’s technique is unique, because it not only uses his hands in the rolling, but he also make the wrist very flexible. This unique twist on rolling technique is a revolution, allowing the technique to be used almost anywhere in the body, and to address many different physical aliments.
These are the 3 major reasons why Acupressure is effective.
Acupressure for Shoulder Pain
1. By moving the wrist and keeping it flexible, the knuckles gently contour to the muscles beneath, addressing all sides of the muscle as well as adding a softness to the technique. For shoulder pain, this allows the hand to pass over many large muscle groups, relaxing them very quickly.
Acupressure for shoulder and upper back
2. When addressing shoulder pain I move the arm into different positions, and often do the massage while my patient is sitting up on a bench. By stretching the arm across the body, it allows me to reach deep hidden muscles under the scapula that are often tight and causing pain.
3. Rolling technique embodies the concept of yin and yang. While it is gently and soft, it is also very strong and powerful to stimulate circulation, move qi, relax the muscles. Although the technique moves the hand laterally, it has a remarkable ability to penetrate and effect deep muscles that are stiff and tense.
Acupuncture Therapy for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Oct 15, 2010
The neck and shoulders are thoroughly integrated. So much so that pain in your neck often comes from trigger points on your shoulder. This is why I treat the neck and shoulders together with acupuncture.
Chronic neck and shoulder pain is a very common problem in contemporary society from computer overuse, stress, and poor posture.
The acupuncture will deeply relax the muscles and related trigger points in the neck and shoulder. Acupuncture treatment often leads to long term pain relief.
For most people, neck and shoulder pain develops over time. At one point, your body was healthy and pain free. However, an injury or chronic stress leads to the development of chronic pain. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work by bringing the body back to balance. By correcting the imbalance, acupuncture helps the body to heal.
Acupuncture Approach to Neck and Shoulder Pain
Acupuncture Models
Acupuncture is based on a theory that the pain is caused by an imbalance. When it comes to muscle pain, the acupuncturist must determine if it is a condition of stagnation or deficiency. The treatment will be tailored to that diagnosis.
Stagnation occurs when there is a lack of circulation in the muscles. This impedes the circulation in the acupuncture channels and muscles, which leads to pain. A deficient condition is when there is not enough energy. Then the muscles do not have enough substance to support them, as a result they tense up.
There is an old acupuncture saying which states, “When there is movement, there is no pain. When there is no movement, there is pain.” When there is no circulation and the muscles are tight, pain occurs. This is often caused by stagnation.
Stagnation may develop from an injury, wear and tear, or chronic stress. Chronic stress is one of the most common causes of stagnation, which is why it is easy to develop pain and injuries during periods of high stress.
The other common issue with neck and shoulder pain is qi weakness, or too little energy. In this case, the acupuncture must focus on building up the energy to promote healing.
For an excess condition, your acupuncturist may use a stronger technique, and for a deficient condition, your acupuncturist may use a more gentle technique. If the deficiency is very extreme, then the treatment may be take a longer time.
Acupuncture Treatment for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Pain relief with acupuncture for neck and shoulder pain depends on identifying the proper imbalance and then creating an effective acupuncture point prescription.
If the imbalance is stagnation without weakness, then I choose more acupuncture points that are at the location of pain. In this case, it would be acupuncture points on the neck and shoulders such as Gallbladder 20, Gallbladder 21, Small Intestine 11, and Du 14. Also, points such a Gallbladder 34 should be used to open the acupuncture channel.
When the root cause of the shoulder pain is an underlying weakness, then acupuncture points to boost up the qi should be used. These point could be Spleen 6, Kidney 3, and Liver 3. People usually feel some relief after the first treatment. It is best to get a full treatment course for long term benefit. Most often this is about 4-8 visits.
Tui Na for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Ending of rolling movement
Tui Na, or Chinese medical massage, is essential for the treatment of shoulder pain. One of the most powerful and unique techniques in Tui Na is called the rolling technique, called gun fa in Chinese. This technique uses the back of the hand to roll over the muscles. Rolling technique is both soft and strong, allowing it to get deep into the muscle and help with relaxation.
If you push too hard on a muscle, the muscle will rebel. Instead of relaxing, it can become tighter. The rolling technique, because it is smooth, allows the use of strength while avoiding resistance within the muscle.
Treating the Whole Person
Acupuncture will address the whole person, not just the neck and shoulders.
The body is interconnected, tension from one area can create problems in other muscles. Often, trying to target and treat only the location of the pain does not relieve the tension in the surrounding muscle groups. This is particularly true when treating pain in the neck and shoulders. All of the muscles in the region need to be addressed.
Acupuncture helps to relax the body and the mind. Stress and pressure have a profound effect on neck pain development. The stress causes the muscles to become tense. The muscle tension then causes stress, creating a cycle. The acupuncture can help to break this cycle.
Home
Sep 1, 2010
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine work by correcting imbalances in your body. When you regain your natural balance, you are healthier, and you feel better.
Joseph Alban is a New York Licensed Acupuncturist and Board Certified Herbalist. He is known for his unique approach blending the concepts of Chinese Medicine and Western Physiology to specifically target the root of your problem.
Joseph’s treatment approach includes a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbal remedies, tui na massage, qi gong, electric stimulation, cupping, and stretching. Every patient receives an individualized treatment plan.
Commonly treated conditions:
- Chronic joint pain: arthritis, back pain, neck and shoulder pain, and rotator cuff injury
- Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, overactive bladder, interstital cystitis
- Skin Conditions: Acne, eczema, psoriasis, perioral dermatitis, rosacea, and others
- Tension headaches, sinus headache, seasonal allergies, and migraines
- Click here for more information
About Alban Acupuncture:
Alban Acupuncture is the Midtown NYC acupuncture practice of Joseph Alban. Joseph has extensive training in acupuncture, tui na, and Chinese herbal medicine from both the United States and China. His practice focuses on relieving chronic pain, sports injuries, as well as helping people with skin conditions. Joseph is a frequent blogger and has authored numerous journal articles. He has been featured in magazines such as Time Out New York. Read more about Joseph Alban, L.Ac.
Our New Office:
Our new office, located at 40th and Lexington in Manhattan, was designed to create a beautiful and calming environment. The office design features specially designed sound panels mounted on the walls which soften sounds in the office and prevent outside sounds from coming in. Its the perfect place for rest, healing, and wellbeing. Feel free to come early and enjoy a cup of tea before your appointment!
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Traditional Chinese Medicine works by correcting imbalances in the body. When your body regains its natural balance, you are healthier, and you feel better. Treating the imbalance does not just treat the symptoms or mask the condition, but rather corrects the root of the problem by encouraging self-healing of the body. The treatments are specifically tailored to your condition and symptoms.
Acupuncture is a natural therapy with little risks of side effects. Acupuncture can help you to reduce your dependance upon medications and bring about a sense of well being. Acupuncture works by stimulating the body to heal itself. Physiologically, acupuncture works to reduce pain and inflammation through regulating neural pain pathways, stimulating the release of the body’s natural pain relievers, as well as regulating pain relieving receptors. Acupuncture also has an anti-inflammatory effect reducing the circulating inflammatory hormones.
How Acupuncture Treats Pain
Oct 15, 2008
The majority of Americans are in chronic pain or have experienced it. More and more, people are seeking acupuncture for relieve of all types of chronic pain, from back pain and neck pain, to headaches and migraines, or chronic pelvic pain.
Pain can affect almost every system in the body and develops from many sources.It can occur from a chronic immune disorder, after an infection, from a physical injury, or from emotional stress. Often, pain stays around a long time after an injury has healed.
As a teenager, I first sought out acupuncture to treat my own chronic pain. For several years I suffered from back pain. It was quite severe for my age, keeping me from playing sports, getting regular exercise, and fully enjoying myself. No one knew what it was from and everyone had their own theory: I was growing too fast, growing too slow, my muscle didn’t develop, or my muscles were too tight. After trying various remedies, and being called a complainer by my not so friendly general practitioner, I tried Chinese medicine. It was the only thing that stopped the pain.
How does Acupuncture address pain?
Acupuncture addresses pain by helping the body heal itself. It not only treats symptoms, like taking a painkiller, but also corrects imbalances in the body, thereby, allowing the body to heal itself.
Recently, several scientific studies have attempted to figure out what exactly this healing process is. To explain a few of the concepts, I’ll use my back pain as an example. Although, I feel the pain in my back, the perception of pain is created in the brain. Acupuncture works not only to heal the pain locally, in my back, but also in my brain. Unlike other approaches, acupuncture treats both sources of the pain.
Often, the acupuncture itself focuses on the location of the pain. In my case, it was the lower back.The fibroblasts, the cells of the connective tissue in the area, actually grab onto the needle.The ends of the cells then wrap themselves around the needle.[i] Then the cells begin to change shape and rearrange their own support system, probably working to correct injuries.This is also a method for cells to communicate with one another, so one cell can broadcast messages of self-healing to other cells in the tissue.[ii] In addition, the nucleus begins to expand, which signals the first stages of gene expression to repair the cell and the tissue around it.
The phenomenon in which the body grabs onto the needle has been known to Chinese medicine physicians for thousands of years and is described as “getting the qi” which should feel similar to a fish biting a hook. As a practitioner, this is how I know when the point is stimulated correctly. I can actually feel the body grab the needle, which tells me that the body is reacting well to the treatment.
Acupuncture Healing the Whole Body
While the acupuncture treatment may be focused on the painful area, the purpose of each acupuncture treatment addresses the whole body. As I mentioned before, one way acupuncture addresses the whole body is through the brain.
We forget a lot of things, like where we put your keys or our mother’s birthday. But, the brain does not like to forget pain. Often, the brain remembers pain long after an injury has healed itself. Using an fMRI scanner, a scan that tracks blood flow within the brain, scientists have shown that acupuncture can change the brain patterns for those with chronic pain.
One of the best studies that used fMRI focused on individuals with carpel tunnel syndrome.[iii]After the treatment, the pain was greatly reduced and the nerve health of the arm was improved. In addition, the carpel tunnel pain pattern within the brain was much more like that of a healthy person than before the treatment.
Working both at the area of pain and in the brain, acupuncture helps to reduce chronic pain by reteaching the body to be healthy.As we learn more about acupuncture we are also discovering how much the ancient clinical science of acupuncture and Chinese medicine has to add to our knowledge of the human body.
[i] Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Wu J. Et. al. Evidence of Connective Tissue Involvement in Acupuncture. FASEB Journal. April 10, 2002.Published Online.
SEARCH
Sign up
GET RSS FEED
CATEGORIES
ARCHIVES
Like us on Facebook
RECENT BLOG POSTS
Recommended by
