4 Acupressure Points to Relieve Back Pain
Massage your calf to relieve back pain.
The four points shown are all easy to locate and massage. Each point helps to relieve back pain, especially low back pain.
These points are all on the Bladder Meridian. By focusing on these points, you help move the energy within the whole meridian. When the energy starts flowing, the back pain is relieved.
How to locate the points:
BL 40 is directly behind the knee. Do not apply deep pressure here to avoid injuring the knee. Instead, use very light pressure and create movement by wiggling the area gently.
BL 55, BL 56, BL 57 are found on the center line of the calf muscle (gastrocnemius). Many times, these points are very tender, so add your pressure slowly. Be sure to ask your client to tell you when they feel a sensation at the point.
Applying Pressure
Vary your pressure by holding steady, deep pressure on the points, and then making small circles with pressure. Massage the meridian by kneading the entire calf. Now that you have the energy flowing, finish be squeezing the little toe (the last point on the Bladder meridian).
It’s all connected
The image below shows the entire Bladder meridian. The reason we can relieve back pain by working points on the calf is because we are working on the Bladder meridian, which connects us all the way from head to foot. Experience is the best teacher – so give it a try!
The Bladder Meridian
Why you can relieve back pain with acupoints
On the energetic level, pain is often due to “stuck” or “stagnated” energy. Once the energy gets moving again, the pain is relieved. Whether it is back pain or shoulder pain, the intention is the same – get the energy flowing to relieve the symptom of pain.
Energy in Chinese medicine is called Qi “chee”. When you are able to work with both the physical structures (muscle, tendon, ligaments, etc) and the energetic (Qi), you amplify your work to get even better results!
4 more points to relieve back pain
What do you recommend for ITB?
Iliotibial band? If so, attend to the Gallbladder meridian and issues related to the Wood Element.
Just be careful of that popliteal fossa
Hello, thank you for your wonderful posts on Facebook.I was wondering if you also put a Pinterest icon on your photos ,so we can pin it to our board. Many people are educated through sharing on Pinterest.
Many thanks for your consideration and all the best wishes for the coming year.
Hello,
Thank you for your feedback. I used to have a better Pinterest button, will look around for a new one. For now, when you slide over the “+”, you can see Pinterst option for sharing. My Pinterest address is: http://www.pinterest.com/bigtreehealing/
Hi cindy do you do a full course on a uplinks please and if so how much thank you Emma Thomas
I do offer online classes, here is the link http://bigtreehealing.com/webinar-courses/
How can I learn more!
Hi Avi – I have a whole webinar that takes this further – How to Relieve Back Pain with Points and Meridians , here is the link http://students.bigtreehealing.com/reduce-low-back-pain-2/
Enjoy!
Wow, this is great to see! I just had a massage client last night complaining about her recent back pain. Since I did the Meridian Massage training with you I always remembered that pain above is often rooted below along the meridian. To help her I went right to these points that you have highlighted in this blog. These points were very tense and painful for her put slowly we worked through it until they calmed down and began to release. I also showed her how to use a tennis ball at home to activate and release them more often. Great to see this blog this morning and be confirmed by my teacher that effective bodywork happens through the meridians and the acupressure points. Thank you Cindy for teaching me that.
Lenore,
Thanks for sharing your experience! It is because of dedicated practitioners like you that people can be relieved of their pain naturally and learn how to care for themselves simply. I am so happy that you are making this work your own.