Rhomboid pain usually affects weightlifters and construction workers — active people who regularly place a great deal of strain on their upper back. But even if you’re not actively participating in strenuous activities, you can still experience rhomboid pain due to things like poor posture and sitting at a desk all day. If you’re tired of dealing with the stiffness and discomfort, you may be wondering how you can benefit from acupuncture for rhomboid pain, and if this is a viable alternative treatment option for your condition.
Acupuncture can be used to reduce pain and inflammation of the rhomboid muscles. Along with other holistic treatment methods, like massage therapy, acupuncture can even help prevent rhomboid pain from flaring up again in the future.
Is acupuncture good for treating rhomboid pain?
The rhomboid muscles are located in the upper back, between the shoulder blades. Rhomboid pain is common in people who engage their upper body muscles regularly. Pushing, pulling, and lifting heavy objects repeatedly puts excessive wear and tear on these muscles, which can lead to inflammation over time.
Rhomboid pain is most often the result of overuse, but other things can contribute to this type of inflammation as well, including a sedentary lifestyle, stress, and forgetting to stretch before exercising. The rhomboid region is also particularly susceptible to muscle knots, which are hard painful lumps that can severely restrict your range of motion. If you’ve noticed a sudden decrease in the strength of these muscles, a knot could be to blame.
Rhomboid pain can be debilitating. But, fortunately, acupuncture is a helpful supportive measure for this type of injury. Whether you’ve recently pulled your rhomboid muscles, or are dealing with chronic rhomboid pain, acupuncture can help you overcome the injury naturally, without having to rely excessively on pain medications.
How does acupuncture fight rhomboid pain?
Acupuncture fights all types of pain in the exact same way. So whether you’re dealing with rhomboid pain, frozen shoulder, or carpal tunnel syndrome, acupuncture can help you heal from your injuries and get back to doing all of the things you enjoy most. There’s a reason this holistic treatment method has been used for centuries!
Once an acupuncture needle has been inserted, this engages the body’s nervous system, causing the muscles to contract briefly, then relax. Clients often report an immediate sense of relief when a needle is placed because it releases long-held tension. The insertion of an acupuncture needle also creates localized microtrauma, stimulating the body’s natural healing process by improving blood flow to the injury site. The better the circulation to the injured tissues, the faster your body can recover.
Acupuncture promotes rapid healing from a cellular level. But its benefits don’t stop there. Acupuncture further aids in the recovery process by triggering the release of endorphins, feel-good chemicals that are produced in response to enjoyable stimuli, such as laughter or eating a good meal. Endorphins mediate the pain response, making the pain easier for you to cope with.
What can you expect during your first acupuncture appointment?
At the start of your first acupuncture appointment, your acupuncturist will analyze your health history and ask you a few questions to get a better idea of what is causing your rhomboid pain in the first place. You may be asked to perform a strength assessment so your acupuncturist can determine how widespread your musculoskeletal dysfunction truly is.
During your acupuncture session, needles will be inserted into different acupuncture points across your body. Depending on the extent of your muscular imbalances, you may require acupuncture for seemingly unrelated muscles, like your calves or your neck.
When your rhomboid muscles become imbalanced, it can cause pain to radiate into other parts of the body. Conversely, imbalances that originate in other muscles can contribute to rhomboid pain. Resolving dysfunction will help you regain the comfortable use of your muscles.
Once the needles have been inserted, you will be asked to lie still and relax for 20 to 40 minutes. When the time is up, the needles will be removed, and you can resume your life as normal. In some cases, you may be advised to refrain from exercise after your appointment to give your muscles time to recover. Your acupuncturist may give you a series of stretches and corrective exercises to help you regain the use of your rhomboid muscle after your session.
Will one acupuncture session cure your rhomboid pain?
Acupuncture works with your body by supporting the healing process. Because the benefits of acupuncture become compounded over time, it’s unlikely that your rhomboid pain can be treated with one acupuncture session alone. Exactly how many acupuncture appointments you will need depends on a variety of factors, including the cause and extent of your rhomboid pain.
Acute rhomboid injuries, especially if they’re mild in nature, can usually be treated in fewer sessions. But chronically inflamed rhomboid muscles may require ongoing treatment. Older injuries typically require more aggressive treatment than more recent ones. Regardless, acupuncture can treat rhomboid pain effectively. Regular sessions can also be used to prevent rhomboid flare-ups in the future.
Regardless of the severity of the injury, everyone can benefit from regular acupuncture tune-ups to identify musculoskeletal imbalances before they get out of hand. Depending on your health and wellness goals, your acupuncturist may recommend other alternative therapies, too, including electrostimulation and massage.
Scheduling your first acupuncture session
If you want to reduce your pain naturally and preserve your mobility in the years to come, acupuncture can help you do just that. Back pain, whether it’s located in the rhomboid muscles or the lower back, can interfere with your day-to-day activities. But holistic medicine can help you overcome the inflammation that has been holding you back so you can take a more active role in your life.
Lycoming Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture has years of experience treating rhomboid pain and related injuries. Contact our office today to learn about the variety of services we offer. When you book an appointment at one of our clinics, we will help you make sense of your musculoskeletal injuries so you can finally overcome your rhomboid pain.
