Rehabilitation of the Body & Mind

Rehabilitation of the Body & Mind

Acupressure Complementary & Integrative Medicine Approach

Rachna Mehta PT, DPT, CIMT, OCS, PRPC, RYT 200

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a branch of NIH, pain is the most common reason for seeking medical care (Pain: Considering Complementary Approaches published by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2019). There is a rising clinical interest in Integrative medicine for non-pharmacologic treatment options as our healthcare system faces a crisis of pills and opioid use (Monson et al 2019). 

Integrative health is an evidence-based healing-oriented approach that takes into account the whole person, emphasizes lifestyle and the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, and makes use of all appropriate therapies. The NCCIH further defines integrative health as bringing conventional health care 
approaches (medication, physical rehabilitation, psychotherapy, etc.) and complementary health approaches (acupuncture, yoga, probiotics, etc.) together with an emphasis on treating the whole person (Justice et al 2023).
One of the guiding principles of Integrative Physical Therapy is to create a therapeutic alliance between the clinician and the patient. The focus is on “whole person health” by regulating their nervous system, thereby creating resilience and overall well-being for the patient.

Anxiety is a very common psychiatric symptom and can also occur in many physical conditions. Due to the limitations of conventional pharmacotherapy, the discovery of nonpharmacologic treatments that alleviate anxiety effectively is clinically important. Research shows that Acupressure is very effective clinically as a mind-body practice for improving pain, anxiety, heart rate variability, nausea, chronic fatigue and a host of other conditions.

Acupressure is a type of Acupuncture in East Asian Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It’s part of an integrative medicine that involves the application of pressure to specific points (i.e., Acupoints) or specific areas of the body using one’s hands or other Acupressure devices (Kwon et al). Acupressure has been used in Traditional Chinese 
Medicine for over 3000 years and is based on Meridian theory.

Acupressure can be performed by a clinician or self-administered for a variety of indications including reduction in stress-related symptoms. Among other things, acupressure has been shown to regulate activity of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenocortical axis, thereby modulating levels of cortisol, endorphins, and serotonin—hormones that affect mood, nociception, and stress (Abbott et al). 

Emerging research shows that these Acupoints are embedded in a three-dimensional fascial network throughout the body and have a high electrical conductivity on the surface of the skin. Histological studies show a high density of A and C afferent fibers at these points. Through a vast network of interstitial connective tissue, these Acupoints 
connect the peripheral nervous system to the central viscera. Heart 7 (H7) is the 7th acupoint of the heart meridian, which is located at the ulnar aspect at the end of the distal transverse crease of the wrist, between the flexor carpi 
ulnaris and the flexor digitorum superficialis. Yintang (EX-HN 3), is an acupoint located between the eyebrows. Both these acupoints are known to have a calming & mentally stabilizing effect in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

Teaching our patients self-regulation skills fosters a sense of calm and helps them focus on the present in a mindful way. As the evidence continues to grow, both medical providers and patients are seeking effective non-pharmacological approaches for symptom relief. Clinically Acupressure shows promising results and adds value to an Integrative approach to Rehabilitation wherein we can combine holistic mindful-based 
interventions into our best evidence-based practices.

The course Acupressure: Integrative Healthcare for Stress & Pain Relief series is curated and taught by Rachna Mehta. It explores Acupressure as a powerful integrative practice and offers unique evidence-based daily wellness regimens. To learn how to integrate Acupressure into your clinical practice, please join us on April 6th, 2024.

References

1. Pain: Considering Complementary Approaches published by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2019 2. Monson E, Arney D, Benham B, et al. Beyond Pills: Acupressure Impact on Self-Rated Pain and Anxiety Scores. J Altern Complement Med. 2019;25(5):517-521
3. Justice C, Sullivan MB, Van Demark CB, Davis CM, Erb M. Guiding Principles for the Practice of Integrative Physical Therapy. Phys Ther. 2023;103(12):pzad138. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzad138
4. Kwon CY, Lee B. Acupuncture or Acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for Anxiety: A Preliminary Review. Med Acupunct. 2018;30(2):73-79. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1268
5. Chen YW, Wang HH. The effectiveness of acupressure on relieving pain: a systematic review. Pain Manag Nurs. 2014;15(2):539-550.
6. Abbott R, Hui EK, Kao L, et al. Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupressure for Perception of Stress and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Self-Acupressure for Stress (SAS) Trial. Am J Med Open. 2023;10:100056. doi:10.1016/j.ajmo.2023.100056
7. Bal SK, Gun M. The effects of acupressure on pain, anxiety and vital signs in patients undergoing coronary angiography: A randomized and sham-controlled trial. Explore (NY). Published online July 4, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2023.07.00