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SIN KANG TCM

Back pain can be caused by many factors such as injuries or overexertion during active exercise. However, for many Singaporeans today, a more common cause of back pain is prolonged sitting and bad posture due to our work environments.

Remaining seated at your computer or office desk for the whole day can cause weakened or stagnant blood flow in your neck, shoulder, and back. This can result in pain and may even persist over time and turn into a chronic condition if not treated as quickly as possible.

Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments including Tui Na massage, Acupuncture, and Cupping can alleviate back pain symptoms. Here at Sin Kang TCM, we personalise each treatment session to ensure that your specific pain relief needs are met. Our physicians have over 20 years of TCM experience in order to provide you with the most effective treatment possible. Book an appointment with us today and take the first step to a pain-free life.

What are the different causes of back pain?

Identifying underlying causes of back pain enables our back pain massage specialists in Singapore to make a complete diagnosis and identify which type of TCM techniques should be applied. These are some of the common causes of chronic back pain:

1. Poor Posture

Improper posture such as slouching or sitting cross-legged is one of the main causes of chronic back pain. Slouching forward increases pressure in between the shoulder blades, causing you to flatten your back muscles. Sitting cross-legged is another cause of lower back pain as it causes one side of your hip joint to be slightly higher than the other. As a result, your pelvic bones become out of balance. In addition, your pelvis and spine become misaligned causing chronic back pain.

2. Health Problems

Existing health problems can cause chronic back pain. The elderly and cancer patients are prone to experiencing chronic back pain because their muscles, body, and immune systems are weakened due to their conditions, and the pain is a result of their Qi (vital energy) stagnating or weak. Tensions or blockages in certain areas of your body (meridians) cause Qi stagnation. When the body’s organs, particularly the kidney where the “gas tank” of Qi is rooted, become deficient, it won’t be able to fully function. This results in experiencing pain in different parts of the body, including the back.

Another health-related factor in TCM leading to chronic back pain is the invasion of external pathogens such as too much Cold, Wind, Dampness, or Heat. These external pathogens may invade the lower back area, causing pain. If you have a weak defensive Qi, you are more likely to become more at risk of external invasions through your skin pores.

2. Muscle and Ligament Strains

You'll also experience chronic back pain in the lower back due to muscle and ligament strains. If you’ve had physical trauma from external sources or sustained muscle and soft tissue sprains, these conditions also contribute to back pain.

3. Spinal Problems and Other Illnesses

Common spinal problems that can cause chronic back pain include arthritis, joint degeneration, and herniated discs. In TCM Bamboo Spine (Zhu Jie Yang) is another condition that causes you to experience back pain because the vertebrae or the bones in your spine fuse. This inflammatory disease happens over time and is common among men. This condition often causes chronic back pain. Illnesses caused by the six climatic factors – Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire – can also cause back pain. When these six energies become excessive (combined with sudden changes in environmental circumstances and a weak body Qi) they become unhealthy and may even lead to viral infections.

What types of back pain are there?

1. Acute Pain

Acute back pain is a type of back pain that lasts from one day to four weeks. This kind of back pain is short-term and often attributed to common injuries from performing day-to-day activities. These include lifting heavy boxes or bending your torso incorrectly when you’re doing simple house chores like sweeping the floor or even making the bed. Acute pain normally heals on its own and doesn't require back pain treatments.

2. Subacute Pain

Subacute back pain lasts from four up to 12 weeks. It may be caused by muscle spasms or strains. You can consult a practitioner if you need any back pain relief treatments to prevent it from turning into chronic back pain.

3. Chronic Pain

Chronic back pain can last for more than 12 weeks. You may feel a severe stabbing pain in your upper or lower back area, making it hard for you to move and function normally. You are advised to seek help as untreated pain of such can impact your overall physique and well-being. When you’re experiencing chronic back pain, going for a back pain massage and other TCM treatments can offer relief but discussing options with a specialist first is important.

What are the symptoms of chronic back pain?

Chronic back pain in the upper back region includes feeling a sharp or burning pain on a specific part of the upper back. Achy and throbbing pain, as well as muscle stiffness and tightness, are also common. If you’re experiencing chronic upper back pain, you may also feel the pain radiating down towards your lower back. Other chronic back pain symptoms are experiencing weakness or radiating pain along the nerves.

Symptoms for chronic lower back pain are slightly different. You may experience muscle spasms or tightness, making it difficult for you to move. Chronic back pain in the lower back area may cause you to have a hard time standing up straight from a sitting position. You may also find it too painful even to move.

How do we diagnose chronic back pain?

For our specialists to properly diagnose your chronic back pain, you need to supply us with all the necessary information we need, which you can provide during the consultationprocess.

We will gather important details about your back pain such as how long you’ve been experiencing back pain and which areas are painful, and other related lifestyle habits & medical information. Once we’ve studied all the information you’ve provided, we’ll be able to give you a proper diagnosis and offer you the most suitable lower back pain treatment for your condition.

Why should you try TCM as a non-surgical treatment for back pain relief?

Have you been experiencing chronic back pain and searching for an alternative way to treat lower back pain? TCM is a natural and more affordable alternative to address chronic back pain without any side effects. Instead of spending money on costly prescription drugs and supplements that may even cause long-term side effects on your body, TCM massage therapy for your back pain can help you find relief safely and effectively.

A non-surgical back pain treatment done by an experienced therapist in Singapore is a suitable alternative to providing relief for back pain. TCM treatments like back massage techniques help trigger the body’s natural healing elements for pain relief.

How does Sin Kang TCM provide back pain relief?

At Sin Kang TCM, we use these techniques for back pain relief:

Tui Na massage for back pain relief

Tui Na is a traditional Chinese massage therapy that can alleviate back pain symptoms as well as help maintain your daily overall health. This treatment uses dynamic acupressure techniques coupled with Chinese medical principles to loosen up and remove Qi blockages at key points in the body.

By applying different pressures on the body’s different acupoints using the fingers, fists, hands, and palm, this massage technique for back pain provides patients with relief from any discomfort in their upper or lower back areas. Through this TCM massage technique, muscle adhesions are loosened, which aids in allowing unobstructed flow of Qi (vital energy) and also improves muscle strength significantly. In case you feel any discomfort during the massage, our Tui Na therapists in Singapore can adjust the intensity of each session to suit your pain tolerance threshold and ensure you are comfortable throughout. In doing so, you will enjoy the feeling of your body relaxing and relief from any muscle tensions.

Back pain acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture is one of the most popular TCM services in Singapore and has a wide range of health benefits. It involves the use of needles to access the body’s acupoints with highly targeted accuracy. This TCM technique may seem intimidating, especially if you are afraid of needles. However, with our painless acupuncture treatment, the needles are non-invasive, so they are not meant to cause you to feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. Most of our past patients have even shared that they do not feel anything entering the skin throughout the treatment process!

Acupuncture is a suitable upper and lower back pain treatment as it helps restore normal blood flow by stimulating electromagnetic signals and blood circulation within the body, releasing natural ‘pain killer’ hormones and enzymes such as endorphins, immunity cells, and neurotransmitters. This clears Qi blockage in the body, provides long-lasting back pain relief,and allows the body to naturally heal faster.

Cupping treatment for back pain

Many Singaporeans have embraced cupping for its pain relief and rejuvenation benefits. Cupping treatments use heated glass or bamboo cups to pull up skin and stimulate blood flow, which can restore Qi flow in affected areas of the body. Said pulling force forces blood circulation towards the area where lower back pain is present. This TCM technique enables the blood to circulate and flow better to the area where you are experiencing chronic back pain. As a result, your body will trigger its natural healing process, providing you with back pain relief. Aside from relieving back pain cupping can also be an alternative treatment for other common ailments including high blood pressure, neck pain, or nasal congestion.

Osteopathy treatment for back pain

Osteopathy detects, treats, and prevents health-related problems, including chronic back pain, through various gentle hands-on techniques such as stretching, joint mobilisation and movement, manual bone manipulation and massage for back pain. While chiropractors specialize in manual bone adjustments, osteopaths incorporate manual realignment and manipulation of not just bones, but joints and soft tissues too, together with back massage techniques tailor-fitted to the different needs of their patients. These treatments aim to improve blood flow to help restore your joints’ mobility, prevent bone misalignment improve tissue elasticity, relieve back muscle pain and stiffness, and reduce muscle tension.

Our back pain TCM specialists/experts

For the best results from your back pain therapy, you need a trusted and qualified practitioner to administer the TCM treatments. Sin Kang TCM Clinic has many board-certified and highly-experienced TCM practitioners who specialize in back pain treatment in Singapore. Our TCM specialists have addressed numerous cases of patients with back stiffness, back muscle pain, sprained back, and other conditions involving back pain, some even seeing results within just one session!

FAQs about TCM back pain relief and treatment in Singapore

What are the benefits of our TCM back pain relief treatment?

TCM back pain relief treatments are more than just massages. We treat pain areas from a holistic point of view to ensure you find relief from chronic back pain. Since our techniques and methods target specific issues that promote better blood flow and circulation, your body can heal itself the natural way quickly.

Should I get TCM treatments for back pain?

TCM treatments are suitable for people who are experiencing chronic back pain. If you have tried Western treatments, supplements or medicine for your back pain and still feel discomfort, give TCM methods a try. If you have illnesses such as cancer or liver disease, it’s best to consult with your physician before undergoing TCM treatments. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, and children are also advised to seek advice from a medical doctor before opting for lower back pain treatments through TCM.

Why choose Sin Kang TCM for back pain relief?

Sin Kang TCM has more than 20 years of experience providing back massages and treatments in Singapore for pain management. Our holistic, all-natural, and non-invasive TCM methods can help address and prevent pain by utilising the body’s natural healing process. Through our tried and tested techniques, we can help correct and resolve the root cause of your chronic back pain.

Place your trust in our TCM Board-accredited practitioners who perform tried and tested back massage techniques. With our team of trained and qualified specialists for back pain, we can advise our clients with the most suitable treatment for back pain relief.

Aside from back pain, we also treat other conditions such as frozen shoulder, neck pain, and more. If you’re looking for a natural way to address your pain, we at Sin Kang TCM can help you. Our healing methods are 100% natural and are free from any foreign substances like concentrated chemicals. Book an appointment with us and experience your body’s natural way of healing.