What is a musculoskeletal disorder? According to Wikipedia, “Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries or pain in the human musculoskeletal system, including the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and structures that support limbs, neck, and back.”
If you are suffering from musculoskeletal problems such as sports injuries, back pain, arthritis and so on and are looking for a holistic solution to the same, then Acupressure is just what you need. Acupressure is a treatment protocol where you apply firm pressure on certain parts of your body. Certain areas of the body are agitated, swollen, or tense and you only get relief when you stimulate specific acupressure points. Acupressure helps reduce pain when you activate certain points on the body. Is musculoskeletal pain too much to bear? When the pain in your muscles, joints, nerves, ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissues hurt so much that movement becomes difficult, you will have to find a way to mitigate the pain. It also limits your daily movements, so if the musculoskeletal pain is affecting your quality of life, you must find a way to reduce the pain.
How Acupressure Helps Treat Musculoskeletal Pain
Here are some musculoskeletal problems that acupressure treats effectively.
1. Arthritis:
People suffering from inflammatory problems such as arthritis can get substantial relief from acupressure. Arthritis is characterized by chronic joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration. By applying certain acupressure points you can get relief from inflamed joints.
2. Back pain:
Most people get affected by back pain nowadays. Acupressure, with its therapeutic benefits, helps release the tension in the muscles and helps tone or support the muscles which have become weak because of less use.
3. Chronic pain:
Acupressure is a great way of treating chronic pain. You can treat the acupoint of the pain and the nerves by gently massaging a few of the acupressure points.
4. Fibromyalgia:
You can suffer from fibromyalgia because of traumatic injury to the soft tissue, emotional trauma or any severe illness. It is non-inflammatory in nature and also leads to a condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (this is characterized by deep fatigue, sleeping problems, pain and so on). Acupressure treats some of the common symptoms of fibromyalgia such as fatigue and sleeplessness.
5. Tendonitis:
The tendon helps connect the tissue to the bone, you suffer from tendonitis when the tendon gets inflamed. Acupressure helps reduce some of the inflammation and helps ease mobility problems.
6. Sciatica:
The sciatic nerve stretches from the lower spine to the back of the foot, and is the longest nerve in the body. So, when this nerve is agitated, you will feel the pain radiating from the lower back to the foot. This condition is known is called sciatica. The acupoints for sciatica pain are located in the lower back and the hip. Acupressure helps loosen the muscles in these regions and also helps reduce inflammation.
7. Insomnia:
Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder, and the acupressure points for treating insomnia are located between your heel and anklebones (on either side). This has been used extensively to relieve and treat insomnia.
8. Sports injuries:
Strains and sprains are the most common sports injuries, and they usually affect athletes. Acupressure also has anti-inflammatory benefits that can help heal injured ligaments or muscles and tendons. Acupressure not only restores and retrains the body, it is particularly effective for an athlete who plays high-demand sports.
9. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome:
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where the pressure impacts the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel, which results in wrist pain. Acupressure helps in using the directed pressure to certain acupuncture points on the various parts of the body.
10. Migraines:
Acupressure can also treat primary headaches, such as tension and migraines.
Musculoskeletal Aches and Pains – Pressure Point Massage
Acupressure points are points on the skin that react to the bio-electrical impulses in the body. When you activate these points with needles, pressure, or heat, you release endorphins that help lower the pain. Acupressure stops the pain signals that the brain transmits, thus helping prevent painful sensations that pass from the spinal cord to the brain. This blocks the pain and stops the flow of blood and oxygen to various affected parts of the body.
Acupressure not only treats the pain, it re-energizes and re-balances the body, helping lower and dissolve the stress levels that have a negative impact on the immune system. Acupressure helps strengthen your immunity.
Benefits of Acupressure:
1. Helps sort out the pinched nerves that lead to pain.
2. It helps reduce and eliminate pain.
3. It offers pain management without the drugs.
4. Helps relax muscles.
5. Enables proper blood circulation.
6. Triggers off endorphins in your body, which acts as the body’s natural pain-reliever.
7. It works in tandem with other alternative therapies.
8. It helps boost the immune system.
Acupressure for musculoskeletal pain, when applied to specific points on the body, helps stimulate various coordinating organs and muscles. This helps eliminate the pain and also enables the release of chi, bringing back the balance of the body. Find out some of the best musculoskeletal pain treatments with acupressure points here.
1. The Pericardium (P6) Acupressure Point
The Pericardium (P6) acupressure point is a very effective acupressure point as it treats nausea and vomiting resulting from a lot of problems such as postsurgery, motion sickness, pregnancy, and post-chemotherapy. Its healing benefits soothe an upset stomach, chest pain, headaches, and pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. You will find this point between the two large tendons on the inside of your wrist, about three finger-widths below the base of your palm.
2. The B4 Acupressure Point
This B4 acupressure point or knee back acupressure point is an excellent point for reducing knee and back pain; arthritis in the knee, stiffness in the back and hips; and sciatica pain. Find this acupressure point at the center of the back of your kneecap. Press this point for 1 minute and then repeat the same on the other leg. Do this daily for a few minutes.
3. The B10 Acupressure Point
The B10 acupressure point is a pair of acupressure points that has multiple benefits, as it reduces anxiety, stress, exhaustion, burnout, headache or a feeling of heaviness in the head, neck pain and insomnia. They can provide ample relief to eye strain and a stiff neck. You can locate the points one finger-width right below the base of the skull on either side, on the prominent neck muscles, that is located 1/2 inch wide off the spine. This is a good tension-relief point that helps fix tension headaches, relieves tired eyes and can be located in the occipital hollow, where the bottom of the skull joins the neck on either side of the spine. Use a thumb to press this area on either side but don’t press too hard.
4. Acupressure Point Celestial Gathering or (Small Intestine 11)
If you have been suffering from lower back pain or feel a tension in the shoulders, this point should be your go-to. Located right in the middle of the shoulder blade, you can get relief by applying a finger of pressure here.
5. The Wind Mansion Acupressure Point
Acupressure Wind Mansion Point is an effective point for treatingmusculoskeletal pain symptomssuch as neck pain, shoulder pain, and other neck related problems. Find this point on the back of your head, right below the base of the skull. Apply mild pressure on this point with your thumb and treat a number of musculoskeletal problems.
6. Acupressure Gallbladder 21 Point
The Gallbladder 21 point is effective in minimizing Shoulder Pain. You will find the Gallbladder 21 (GB 21) Point right on the back side of your shoulder. Apply gentle pressure on both shoulders one by one or together. Massage this point for a few moments and you will get relief from shoulder pain, neck stiffness and so on.
7. Commanding Middle Point
The Commanding Middle Point is an exceptional point as it provides relief in Knee Pain and Back Pain. Find this point on the back side of the kneecap in the crease. Search for the Commanding Middle Point on both legs and apply steady pressure for three minutes. Then perform the same process on the other leg. Applying pressure on the Commanding Middle Point will not only help reduce lower backache, stiffness in the back and sciatica pain, but also provide relief to conditions such as arthritis in back, knee, hips and so on.
Niggling pains can affect the quality of life in more ways than one. Instead of depending on painkillers, rely on holistic treatments and lifestyle changes. This is the only way to provide lasting relief to most musculoskeletal conditions.
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