Neck/Shoulder Pain

One of the 3 top musculoskeletal complaints, neck pain can be caused by injury, disc degeneration, stress, improper posture, repetitive position, awkward sleeping position, arthritis, and various others. Despite the cause, according to the Cochrane review of research (10 trials with over 661 participants), acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic neck pain.

Many cases of neck pain are related to stress and posture. Because of incorrect breathing techniques (shallow breathing) and hunching over desks, Americans tend to hold a majority of stress in the neck and shoulders. Over time, this pain transitions from merely aggravating to debilitating. Animal studies have shown that acupuncture reverses many of the common stress responses, including muscle tensing.

Depending on the type of neck pain you are experiencing, acupuncture treats this condition by modifying the body’s pain modulation systems, increasing blood flow to the area and removing obstructions, relaxing the muscles, providing nourishment to the sick meridian to allow healing to occur.

If your neck pain results from severe disc degeneration or herniation, we often suggest additional proven products designed to correct herniated discs, and encourage physical therapy to promote the most effective results.

Shoulder pain is also successfully addressed with acupuncture. Many placebo controlled studies show that acupuncture relieves pain, increases range of motion, decreases muscle tension, and improves flexibility in the trapezius muscles and shoulders.