Preventing Low Back Pain Is Key
The Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has achieved remarkable efficacy using massage-based comprehensive therapy for low back pain, and overall massage expertise continues to improve. However, experts emphasize that the most important measure for low back pain is prevention.
Various causes of low back pain have high incidence rates. Although many treatments exist, there is currently no "miracle cure." The hospital’s massage department, through generations of effort, has accumulated rich experience treating various conditions. For patients with back and leg pain, cervical spondylosis, etc., they employ massage combined with acupuncture, cupping, traction, microwave therapy, semiconductor laser therapy, and herbal steam therapy—proven effective. For acute lumbar sprains, they use massage exercise therapy or Mian needle penetration combined with spinal manipulation. For cervical spondylosis, they combine manual therapy, acupuncture, cervical traction, and oral herbal medicine. For lumbar disc herniation, they apply conventional massage techniques plus posterior joint mobilization, combined with acupuncture, cupping, spinal traction, and herbal baths—becoming a signature treatment, earning patient trust.
Experts point out that TCM has long emphasized "preventing illness before it occurs, prevention over treatment," which applies equally to low back pain. The lumbar region has complex structures, abundant soft tissues, wide range of motion, and heavy load-bearing, making it prone to sprains. If we pay attention to multiple aspects—age, gender, constitution, and occupation—and properly protect our backs, the incidence, severity, and recurrence rate of low back pain will significantly decrease. Prevention measures should not only focus on occupational protection but especially on daily habits like standing, sitting, lying down, and walking.
Experts caution that women with low back pain should avoid high heels. Heels around 3 cm are suitable. For every 1 cm increase in heel height, lumbar extension and back muscle contraction double, greatly increasing the risk of low back pain. Also, improper walking posture when going up or down stairs may cause sudden "stepping into empty space" and result in a back strain. Proper walking posture can prevent and treat low back pain. Additionally, engaging in feasible sports like swimming, supine leg lifts, backward walking, combined with self-massage of the waist, enhances blood circulation in the waist and strengthens back muscles, reducing recurrence of low back pain symptoms.