Acute lumbar sprain refers to the acute injury of the muscles, fascia, ligaments, intervertebral joints, and lumbosacral joint during labor or exercise. In addition to bed rest, massage can be used to relax tense muscles and relieve pain. Let's take a look at the massage methods for acute lumbar sprain.
Common massage methods for acute lumbar sprain
Treatment principle: relax tendons, activate meridians, promote blood circulation, dispel stasis, reduce swelling, and alleviate pain.
Procedure:
1. Gently knead the waist, avoiding the sprained area as much as possible, for about 5 minutes.
2. Apply strong pressure to the Weizhong acupoint. It is best to press until the patient involuntarily twists the waist due to pain, which helps the patient relax tense muscles.
3. Hold the patient's wrist with one hand and use the thumb of the other hand to press and knead the Hegu acupoint on the hand, causing local soreness and swelling for about 1 minute.
Acupressure massage for acute lumbar sprain
1. Tapping the Ashi acupoint: The patient lies prone, and the masseur uses the thumb to find the Ashi acupoint (the tender point) in the waist. Tap the acupoint lightly to heavily, depending on the patient's tolerance. Generally, it is done for 3-5 minutes.
2. Palming the Yaoyangguan acupoint: The masseur uses the base of the palm to massage the Yaoyangguan acupoint, with gentle and deep pressure, to create a warm sensation in the local area. Generally, it is done for 5-10 minutes.
3. Pressing and kneading the Weizhong acupoint: The patient remains in the same position, and the masseur uses the thumbs of both hands to rotate and knead the bilateral Weizhong acupoints. The pressure should create local soreness and swelling. Generally, it is done for 2-3 minutes.
4. Point pressing the lumbar tender point: The patient sits, and the masseur uses the fingertips of both thumbs to press the lumbar tender points on the back of the patient's hand (located between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones and between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones, at the midpoint between the wrist transverse crease and the metacarpophalangeal joint, 2 points on each side, belonging to the extraordinary points of the meridian). First, do one side, then the other side, generally for 1 minute.
5. Lumbar vertebra shaking: The patient sits, and the masseur stands behind the patient, with both hands reaching out from under the patient's armpits to hug their chest. Instruct the patient to relax, breathe naturally, and slowly lift and shake the patient a few times before putting them down. Repeat this 3-5 times, and the patient's lumbar pain will be significantly relieved.
Additional acupressure massage for acute lumbar sprain according to the condition
1. Point pressing the Zhibian acupoint: The patient lies prone, and the masseur uses the thumb or elbow tip to press the Zhibian acupoint on the affected side, creating local soreness and radiating sensation downwards. Generally, it is done for 2-3 minutes.
2. Kneading the Fengshi acupoint: The patient lies on their side, with the affected limb on top. The masseur uses the thumb or elbow tip to rotate and knead the Fengshi acupoint for 1-2 minutes, depending on the patient's tolerance.
Precautions for managing acute lumbar sprain
For acute lumbar sprain, bed rest is the best treatment method. Severe cases should rest in bed for 3 days and avoid frequent sitting up, which is conducive to injury repair. External application of medicated plasters and taking painkillers can also be used for treatment.
