Helix Clinic blog

Low back pain is very common and affects one in three adults in the UK every year. An estimated 2.5 million people seek help for this condition from their GP. For many people the pain goes away after a short time but for some, the pain can become chronic and very debilitating.

In a recent guideline, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has said that anyone whose pain persists for more than six weeks and up to a year should be given a choice of several treatments to try on the NHS.

In addition to painkillers and regular advice to stay active and carry on with normal activities as much as possible, patients, together with their doctor, can decide to try up to 10 sessions of acupuncture over a 12 week period.

Professor Peter Littlejohns, NICE Clinical and Public Health Director said: “This new NICE guideline means that for the first time we now have the means for a consistent national approach to managing low back pain.

“Importantly, patients whose pain is not improving should have access to a choice of different therapies including acupuncture, structured exercise and manual therapy.”

This news is very positive for the public perception of acupuncture, as it implicitly acknowledges a number of research studies that show acupuncture is effective in the treatment of back pain.

Tags: back pain, NHS, NICE

Cupping is a traditional therapy that acupuncturists often use in conjunction with needles. It involves placing suction cups on the skin to help relieve tension, and is often used to help release tight back muscles.

Tight upper back and shoulder muscles are often caused by a combination of bad posture at work and general stress, and cupping is a great and quick way to help clear the tension.

If you have never had cupping before, it can feel a little strange the first time the cups are put on. The sensation should be tight but not painful.  The traditional method of cupping involved burning the oxygen from the inside of a glass cup with a flame before quickly placing it on the skin, but nowadays plastic pump action cups are often easier to use.

Cupping works by improving the circulation of blood and fluids in the immediate area. This can then help to soften tight muscles or release any points of tension or tight connective tissue.  Sometimes the results are very quick, with relief being felt almost straight away. The only down-side to cupping is that it can leave a mark on the skin for anything between a few hours and a few days.

Overall though, it can be a great treatment and the results often outweigh the temporary cosmetic marks.

Tags: back pain, cupping