Acupuncture

Acupuncture in the treatment of back disorders

Acupuncture is a therapy based on the insertion and manipulation of needles on the body that aims to restore the patient’s health and well-being. This therapy has been practiced for more than 3,000 years in the Eastern world, being the gateway of traditional Chinese medicine in Europe. Today, global research teams around the world are working to open new avenues for acupuncture to collaborate with conventional medicine.

Acupuncture can play an important role in coordination with conventional treatments not only because of the benefits it brings, but also because its use does not involve side effects or an increase in the consumption of medications. Therefore, it represents an excellent ally for the patient, without forgetting that the indications of the spine specialist must be followed at all times in the event of any symptom or pathology.

Origins and basic concepts in acupuncture

Acupuncture was born in China more than 3,000 years ago and is part of its traditional medicine. Originally, it is based on a holistic medicine that contemplates the being as a whole: body and mind. In this context, every disease is a process of imbalance that must and can be restored. Since the 1970s there has been a growing interest in understanding and categorizing, from the point of view of Western science, the phenomena related to acupuncture. In this regard, most research advocates a neuroendocrine response in its mechanism of action.

The acupuncturist is the professional who knows precisely the so-called acupuncture points, which Western medicine associates with reactive areas of the nervous system, muscle and connective tissue. The therapist stimulates these areas by inserting and manipulating very fine disposable needles.

In addition to being very useful in relieving pain and reducing anxiety, an acupuncturist can treat a wide variety of ailments, improve overall health, or recommend preventive, complementary and maintenance treatments. Publications such as the Institute of Health Economics’ guide for the management of low back pain in primary care, Toward Optimized Practice (TOP) of Canada, show that this is a very safe technique in the hands of qualified physicians that can be used as a sole therapy or as an integral part of an active treatment program.

Acupuncture and back pain

At present, among the pathologies that can benefit from acupuncture are:

• Cervical, dorsal and lumbar pain with or without irradiation of more than 6 weeks of evolution.

  Acupuncture is cost-effective in relation to the treatment of pain, functional impairment and psychological alterations in those patients with mechanical low back pain that lasts longer than 6 weeks. (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2009)).

  The American Society of Family Physicians and the American Pain Society recommend acupuncture in the treatment of subacute and chronic non-specific low back pain. A recent article by Taylor P et al (Pain Pract 2014) states the same, in the treatment of chronic low back pain, according to the World Health Organization.

  Acupuncture is recommended as a stand-alone therapy or as an integral part of an active treatment program for chronic low back pain (CLBP). The British NICE guidelines consider offering acupuncture treatment, for low back pain of more than 6 weeks’ evolution, of 10 sessions over a 12-week period.

  The Cochrane review “Acupuncture for neck pain” shows evidence of improvement of chronic neck pain with or without irradiation to upper extremities and the use of acupuncture.

• Spinal pain with an important anxious-depressive component.
• Multisegmental disc involvement with or without disc protrusions.
• Cervical, dorsal or lumbar myofascial syndrome.
• Spondyloarthrosis of the elderly.
• Residual pain after spinal surgery.
• Cervical pain with an important tension component.

The acupuncture session

During the first session, our acupuncturist, Marta Vidal Ramperez, takes a complete history of the patient’s medical data, type of diet, sleep pattern, family history and presenting symptoms. The pulse, tongue and facial coloration are also usually examined. Once the reason for the consultation has been explained, the acupuncturist will determine the treatment to be performed.

The patient should remain lying down and relaxed during treatment. The sterile needles are applied to the skin at the precise points and manipulated, remaining injected for 20 to 30 minutes. Each case is different, so the time varies depending on the therapist’s criteria and the symptom to be treated. The insertion of the needle, which is very fine, is not painful; however, it is normal to feel a tingling sensation. In any case, the intensity depends on the person, the point to be treated, the stimulation technique and the experience of the acupuncturist.

Likewise, the number of acupuncture sessions needed will depend on the severity of the symptom, its duration, time and the nature of your treatment. However, improvement is usually seen from the first sessions.

Benefits and risks of acupuncture

Today, acupuncture is an increasingly popular complementary therapy in Western countries, where it is available in specialized health centers. It should be noted that side effects associated with this technique are very rare, and it is not associated with the use of drugs. Therefore, acupuncture can be combined with other medical treatments, although it should always be considered as a complementary treatment and not a substitute.

Our unit performs personalized acupuncture treatments designed by Dr. Paola Cavasin, Licensed in Medicine and Surgery – Specialist in rehabilitation, musculoskeletal ultrasound and minimally invasive techniques.