How common is back pain?

According the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) - very. 'Around 60-80% of adults suffer back pain at some time.  
2.2 million people in Great Britain suffered from work related ill health in 2003/04 - one of five of those involved a bad back. 
Around five million working days lost through bad backs in 2003/04. On average each sufferer took about 19 days off in that 12 month period. 
At least 5 million adults consult their GP annually about back pain. 
NHS physiotherapy costs are estimated at £150.6 m.  
Back pain is the nation's leading cause of disability with 1.1 million people disabled by it. Back pain is physically draining and often affects lifestyle, leisure activities and ability to sleep.'

Causes of Back Pain:

• Repetitive or heavy lifting
• Bending and twisting
• Exerting too much force
• Not recognizing symptoms and taking action
• Disorders of the low back

The low back is subjected to considerable mechanical stress especially in the L5/S1 segment , which is particularly vulnerable.
It frequently overloaded, either suddenly or over a longer period of time causing between 60 & 80% of people to experience low back pain at some stage of life. There is no agreed reasoning to the causes of low back pain among the western medical profession, although it would seem that most of the tissues are capable of producing pain - the muscles, ligaments, intervertebral synovial joints and intervertebral discs.

Western Medicine categorizes low back pain according to the tissues involved and are most commonly:

Conventional Medical Views

Infertility is defined arbitrarily as the inability of a couple to conceive within 12 months, despite having unprotected intercourse. By definition this affects up to 15% of couples. Absolute infertility is rare and for most couples a diagnosis of reduced fertility is made.

In about 10-25% of couples who are referred for investigation, no physical abnormalities are detected.

Despite normal ovulation and healthy semen, conception does not occur. There is no agreed conventional explanation for this problem although some specialists suggest that this form of infertility may be due to a defect in the development of the corpus luteum. In 40% of cases there is some problem with the semen and in up to 60% of cases the woman is found to have some abnormalities. In up to 25% of cases both partners may have a condition which contributes to the infertility.

Defective Semen

The quantity and quality of spermatozoa is deficient. Most cases are due to a reduced number of normal spermatozoa (low sperm count). This maybe as a result of past infection with the mumps virus, late descent of testes or treatment with anti-cancer drugs.

What is stress?

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) defines stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them”. Pressure is part and parcel of all work and helps to keep us motivated. But excessive pressure can lead to stress which undermines performance, is costly to employers and can make people ill. HSE commissioned research has indicated that: about half a million people in the UK experience work-related stress at a level they believe is making them ill; up to 5 million people in the UK feel “very” or “extremely” stressed by their work; and work-related stress costs society about £3.7 billion every year (at 1995/6 prices).

Stress responses

are individual and begin when we perceive a challenging or threatening situation, so not all people will find the same set of conditions or circumstances stressful.  The body responds to stress immediately by activating the  sympathetic branch of the central nervous system (CNS) to produce stress hormones. These hormones cause specific bodily changes such as increased heart rate and metabolism and redirection of blood flow to large muscles; all to prime the body for action.
When the perceived threat is over, the body  returns to normal; stress hormones dissipate over time and are destroyed by other chemicals in the body. Also the parasympathetic branch of the CNS release hormones to calm and return the body to a normal state.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a complete system of medicine, which has successfully maintained the health of more than ¼ the world's population for the last 3,000 years.

Its effectiveness lies in its ability to address simultaneously the root cause of disease and treat its manifesting symptoms. Throughout history medical practitioners have understood this principle to be fundamental to the health of their patients.

How does it work?

Acupuncture works by careful manipulation of the patient's internal network of channels (meridians) by using tiny disposable, hair-like filaments and / or  massage, at prescribed meridian points, encouraging the acceleration of the body's healing process and restoring the patient to a state of renewed health.

Does it hurt?

All the acupuncture filaments used in the practice are sterilised and disposable. Being ‘hair-like' in thickness, most patients don't even notice their insertion! A small electrical sensation or a dull ache may be felt upon activation of the acupuncture point but it certainly isn't painful.

When employing massage techniques special care is taken to ensure the correct amount of pressure is applied in accordance with the health of the patient. All needles are used once only and then safely stored for incineration. Acupuncture is a clean, safe and highly effective natural medicine.