5 Acupressure Techniques To Relieve Lower Back Pain

Paige Bourassa is a licensed acupuncturist with a thriving practice in the heart of New York City. In mbg’s newest class, Essential Guide To Acupressure: Relieve Back Pain, Reduce Headache Tension & Calm Your Anxiety, Paige introduces you to the ancient Chinese medicine practice of acupressure, teaching you how to relieve pain and tension on your own, as well as learning meditation and visualization techniques to feel like the best version of yourself.

Aches and pains cramping your style? Whether you have been struggling with chronic back pain for years or it’s a new flare-up in your life, getting to the cause of the pain quickly is a top priority. The most common causes of low back pain are age, strenuous physical activity, accidents and injuries, inactivity, chronic diseases, and genetic disorders.

Known as the kidney tonification point, acupressure point UB23 is one of the vital acupressure points for lower back pain. Stimulating UB23 provides lasting relief from lower back pain by reducing muscle tension, and it feels amazing. Press this point with medium pressure and hold, or rub for 60 to 90 seconds. Repeat as necessary—if you can have someone do it for you, you’ll be able to relax into the treatment much better.

Gallbladder 30 is yet another significant focal point for the treatment of lower back pain and releasing tension carried from the low back and hips. GB30 relieves pain in the lumbar spine (the lower part), hips, legs, and helps to improve circulation overall.

The Urinary Bladder 40 or UB40 acupressure point is a tender point that helps immensely with most pain sensations along the spine. Stimulating this point on both legs helps in relieving stiffness and lower back pain, especially pain symptoms caused by herniated discs and sciatica. It is also useful for controlling muscle spasms, knee stiffness, arthritis in the surrounding areas, leg pain, and can help release heat from the body.

Probably the most well-known acupuncture point, LI 4, is the main pain point in the body. It can help alleviate most pain syndromes, especially when coupled with the other local back pain points. It is tender and should be pressed for 60 to 90 seconds and repeated if necessary.

Urinary Bladder 62 or "extending vessel" is said to release lumbar tension as well as stabilize the spirit mind, which makes this point, which can be found on the foot, a great choice to soothe anxiety caused by acute back pain. All lower foot points are excellent to treat back pain, which is why reflexology can be so useful in lumbar spasms.

Locate this point: This point is located in the fleshy depression directed under the lateral or outside ankle bone. Stimulating this point on both feet and then carrying on to massage firmly underneath the feet along the arches helps in relieving stiffness and inhibited range of motion along the spine.

You can mix and match the points mentioned above or follow the sequence—the order matters less than how you treat each. Touch the points with intention, and take your time. The technique will help alleviate immediate pain, and you can revisit it at any time, for more long-term help with back pain, contact our office located in Union Square, New York City, or find your local acupuncturist and get some needles!