Training Videos > Acupuncture, press needles and cupping in the treatment of pregnancy related lower back and pelvic pain

Despite physiotherapy guidelines recommending acupuncture as a treatment modality for lower back and pelvic pain in pregnancy, literature reports some reluctance amongst physiotherapists to use in clinical practice. With practitioners expressing concerns that acupuncture may trigger adverse events such as miscarriage or premature labour. This is not reported within the research literature, even when specific points used to stimulate the onset of labour are used. However preterm contractions have been reported within these studies. This may limit women’s and practitioners’ willingness to continue treatment during pregnancy. These points are not considered relevant for treatment within a Chinese medicine framework. This presentation will present an update of the current literature, highlight the differences between medical and Chinese medicine frameworks  and share the presenter’s experiences from an observational study of treating lower back and pelvic pain with acupuncture, cupping and press needles from a Chinese medicine framework.