Many common traditional acupuncture points for spinal pain and headaches are located in the paraspinal muscles on each side of the spine (along the Bladder Channel).There has also been extensive medical research in the use of acupressure for effective control of pain as well. Our patients are taught these acupressure points and many more for temporary relief of pain through use of acupuncture points that may correlate with Travell myofascial trigger points. Prolonged (1/2 to 5 minutes) pressure on selected points usually caused release of muscle spasm and pain. For acupressure points on the spine, we may have the patients lie on a child’s small high bounce ball/ golf ball or tennis ball depending on the patients’ comfort, and they can do this at home. We give all our patients numerous handouts handouts with self-treatment suggestions for headaches, insomnia, spinal/arm/leg pain

Just simply getting rid of the spasm temporarily is not enough, as it will return if the patient does not move the muscles to help maintain their flexibility. This is the purpose of the Chi Kung exercises as well as additional stretching/strengthening/ stabilization exercises and functional body mechanics that are taught. Lifestyle modification, stress reduction techniques/relaxation/ meditation and breathing instruction as part of a total rehabilitation program have been very helpful for overall management of pain, especially long lasting pain, for our patients.

We frequently recommend Acupressure’s Potent Points: A Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments by Michael Reed Gach 1990 Bantam Books New York, NY.
This has good photos and easy instructions for self-treatment of many problems besides muscle/joint pain.