6 Acupoints for Treating Acute Lumbar Sprain

Acute lumbar sprain is a very common cause of sudden low back pain. It typically happens when the body twists unexpectedly, when someone moves without proper control, or when lifting and carrying heavy objects causes a sharp lumbosacral strain. The result is a local soft-tissue injury involving structures such as muscles, fascia, ligaments, and the joint capsule, often with immediate pain and restricted movement. In practice, selecting points according to the exact pain location and the relevant channel pathway can bring fast symptom relief and help restore mobility. The following six-point approach summarises practical point choices and needling methods that are often used for acute lumbar sprain.

6 Acupoints for Acute Lumbar Sprain

1. Renzhong DU26

Location: At the junction between the upper one third and lower two thirds of the philtrum.

Indications: Pain along the midline of the lower back.

Rationale: Renzhong is a point on the Governing Vessel. In Tongxuan Zhiyao Fu it is recorded that Renzhong relieves severe pain and stiffness of the spine and lower back.

Method: Two needling methods are commonly used. The first is to insert from one side of the philtrum and emerge on the other side. The second is to needle from Renzhong obliquely towards the nasal septum using a pecking technique. Needling here can be quite painful. The patient should lie supine to reduce the risk of fainting during needling.

2. Houxi SI3

Indications: Low back pain on one or both sides following the pathway of the Bladder channel. It is especially suitable when both the midline and the lateral regions are painful.

Rationale: Houxi is a point of the Small Intestine channel and is also one of the Eight Confluent points. It connects with the Governing Vessel, and the channel Qi of the hand and foot Taiyang is interlinked, making it useful for lumbar pain patterns associated with the Bladder channel.

Method: If pain is on one side, needle the affected side. If pain is bilateral, needle both sides. It can be used as an alternative to Renzhong.

3. Yinjiao DU28

Indications: Acute midline lumbar sprain.

Rationale: This finding is located on the Governing Vessel. Within 90 to 120 minutes after an acute lumbar sprain, a small protruding haematoma or firm nodule, about the size of a grain of rice, may appear on the upper labial frenulum near Gingjiao. After recovery, this nodule does not disappear. The more frequently sprains occur, the larger it may become, so it can also serve as an indicator of a history of lumbar sprain.

Method: Prick to bleed.

4. Shousanli LI10

Location: On the Large Intestine channel. It lies on the line connecting Yangxi LI5 and Quchi LI11, two cun below the cubital crease.

Indications: Sprain pain at the Jiaji region, between the Governing Vessel and the Bladder channel.

Rationale: Classical descriptions state that the Large Intestine channel runs alongside the spine. In holographic correspondence theory, Shousanli also maps to the lumbar region. For this type of back pain, Sanjian LI3 can also be effective.

Method: Identify a reactive tender point around Shousanli and needle that point.

5. Taichong LR3

Location: Taichong is on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones. Xingjian LR2 is on the dorsum of the foot, between the first and second toes, just proximal to the margin of the web.

Indications: Lumbar pain that is farther away from the midline, outside the Bladder channel region, roughly more than a palm’s width from the midline. The further the pain is from the midline, the better the effect tends to be.

Rationale: Taichong is the Yuan-Source point of the Liver channel, and the Liver governs the sinews. The Liver channel is described as being associated with lumbar pain and difficulty bending and stretching. In holographic correspondence theory, the reactive point here corresponds to the lumbar area.

Method: In acute lumbar sprain, a pressure-pain point can often be found between Taichong and Xingjian. This tender point is not exactly midway between the two points but is usually closer to Taichong. In holographic correspondence theory, it corresponds to the lumbar region. The degree of tenderness does not necessarily match the intensity of back pain, but it tends to correlate with where the pain sits. The further the pain is from the midline, the more obvious the tenderness tends to be.

6. The Lumbar Pain Points One to Five

Indications: This group includes five points on each side, used for different locations of acute lumbar sprain.

Rationale: This set of points was developed and summarised by Dr Gao Shuzhong (Gao 2006)based on holographic correspondence theory. All five points correspond to the lumbar region in that framework, but they are distributed in different anatomical areas.

Method: Divide the painful area of the lumbar sprain into five regions and select the corresponding point. For each pain location, the matching point usually shows the most obvious positive reaction, and needling it often produces rapid results.

Midline pain along the Governing Vessel: The strongest reactive and treatment point is on the ulnar side of the fifth metacarpal, corresponding to the lumbar region. This is Lumbar Pain Point One.

Pain at the Jiaji region: The strongest reactive and treatment point lies in the lumbar correspondence zone between the fourth and fifth metacarpals, which is the traditional Lumbar Pain Point. This is Lumbar Pain Point Two.

Pain along the first Bladder line, about three finger-breadths from the posterior midline: The strongest reactive and treatment point is between the third and fourth metacarpals at the lumbar correspondence location. This is Lumbar Pain Point Three.

Pain along the second Bladder line, about a palm’s width from the posterior midline: The strongest reactive and treatment point is between the second and third metacarpals at the lumbar correspondence location, also known as the second traditional Lumbar Pain Point. This is Lumbar Pain Point Four.

Pain farther from the midline, outside the Bladder lines: The strongest reactive and treatment point is at the lumbar correspondence point on the second metacarpal. This is Lumbar Pain Point Five.

These correspondences are not absolutely strict. If the pain does not fall exactly within the mapped region, treatment can still work, but results are often better when the point is matched to the corresponding pain location.

Daily advice for people with acute lumbar sprain

Maintain good sitting posture and preserve the natural curves of the spine. Choose a chair of suitable height and avoid sitting for long periods on sofas or low stools. Prolonged poor posture can lead to muscle spasm and reduced blood circulation, which encourages the build-up of metabolic by-products and may trigger sterile inflammation.

Avoid sitting for too long. As a guide, stand up and relax every 30 to 40 minutes. Do gentle movements such as stretching, extending, and side bending, then rest for 2 to 3 minutes.

Choose a mattress that is not overly soft so the spine can maintain a good curve during sleep and the muscles and ligaments can relax properly. A mattress that is too soft may leave you feeling more sore on waking.

Avoid exposure of the lower back to cold and damp.

Warm up before lifting. Squat slightly before picking things up to reduce the load on the lower back.

Strengthen exercise to promote circulation, especially to help clear metabolic by-products from the lower back muscles. Keep up targeted training for the lumbar and back muscles.

Gao, S. (2006). Yizhen liaofa: Lingshu quanyong [一针疗法：灵枢诠用; One-needle therapy: An applied interpretation of the Lingshu]. Jinan Publishing House.