For today acupuncture is the leading method of treatment of osteochondrosis. This ancient method, which has been used in China for millennia, began to spread in our country at the end of the last century.
It should be noted that with osteochondrosis, acupuncture is not used as a separate and unique method of treatment, but is used in combination with other conservative methods (massage, physiotherapy, physiotherapy, manual therapy, spinal traction, drug therapy). The main task of acupuncture is to remove muscle spasm and pain, and also to increase the effectiveness of other methods used to treat the disease.
Principle of treatment of osteochondrosis with acupuncture
During the procedure of acupuncture the patient is in a comfortable position, at which the maximum relaxation is achieved, and the doctor with special thin steel, gold or silver needles affects the bioactive points (acupuncture points). In each case, the specialist determines the method of insertion of the needles, the angle of incidence, the depth of impact.
In osteochondrosis, two methods of action are used: sedative and excitatory. The first is soothing and helps to remove pain. At the same time, into the bioactive points, needles are injected to a depth of 1.5 - 1.8 cm and leave them for half an hour or more. The stimulating method has a stimulating and toning effect. In this case, active points are affected from a few seconds to 5 minutes, inserting the needle to a depth of 3 to 10 mm. As a rule, these methods of influence alternate.
Influence on active points influences the basic conducting systems of an organism - nervous, lymphatic, vascular. In this case, the main control systems (central nervous system, neurohumoral, immune, endocrine) are also activated. As a result, the following positive reactions are observed:
- natural synthesis of special substances in the body - endorphins and enkephalins, which have analgesic effect and contribute to the reduction of pain syndrome;
- stimulation of the production of serotonin, positively affecting the nervous system;
- improvement of microcirculation, normalization of arterial and venous circulation, as a result of which the swelling of tissues is reduced and the processes of their regeneration are activated;
- normalization of muscle tone, reduction of myofixation (subluxation of vertebrae) of the spine, removal of spasm of paravertebral muscles.
Depending on the stage of the process and degenerative changes, the effect of these procedures can be different - from some reduction in pain to its complete disappearance. Usually, 4 to 5 acupuncture sessions are required to treat osteochondrosis.
Acupuncture with cervical osteochondrosis
Bioactive points, which are exposed, are different for different forms of osteochondrosis. In osteochondrosis of the cervical region, acupuncture is performed by exposing the points located near the inner edge of the scapula. In this zone there is a trapezius muscle and a muscle that lifts the scapula. The needles are injected to a depth of 1 to 2 cm and left to act for 10 to 30 minutes.
In addition to the above reactions, acupuncture in cervical osteochondrosis promotes the release of cortisol into the blood. It is a corticosteroid hormone that has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
Contraindications to acupuncture for osteochondrosis
Although this method is gentle,
- pregnancy;
- presence of tumors;
- acute infectious diseases;
- mental illness;
- Skin diseases affecting the back area.
It is very important that the specialists who will implement the acupuncture procedure are sufficiently experienced and qualified.