Acupuncture provides the foundation of the treatment. Points are selected according to the location and character of the pain, as well as the muscles and tissues involved.

Once the needles are placed, electrical stimulation can be added to provide a gentle, rhythmic current through the acupuncture needles. This can be especially useful when muscular tension, tightness, or protective muscle spasm is part of the picture.

After the acupuncture and e-stim, a brief session of cupping can be used to finish the treatment. The cups are moved over the affected area or placed briefly over particularly tight muscles, creating a gentle lifting sensation in the tissues. For many people, this final step feels deeply relaxing.

There is no need to overwhelm a straightforward problem with an unnecessarily complicated treatment. When the source of the discomfort is relatively clear and the case is uncomplicated, a focused combination of acupuncture, e-stim, and brief cupping can provide a remarkably effective treatment.

Many people come in with the expectation that back pain requires a long or involved protocol. Often, it does not. A thoughtful practitioner can identify the key areas contributing to the discomfort and treat them directly.