Chronic Low Back Pain

In a sitting position, the natural lordotic curve of the lumbar spine disappears, the front of the disc is compressed, and intradiscal pressure rises to 1.4 to 1.9 times that of standing. Furthermore, sitting for long periods causes deep stabilizing muscles, such as the multifidus and transversus abdominis, which support the spine segmentally, to atrophy due to lack of use, while the psoas muscle shortens, causing pelvic alignment to collapse. In this state, standing up or performing light movements causes repetitive micro-injuries to accumulate in the weakened structures, leading to chronic pain.

Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic

Korean medicine views a sedentary lifestyle itself as the cause of illness, as prolonged sitting damages flesh and muscles. When the function of organs responsible for digestion and absorption weakens, muscles become lethargic, and waste products and fluids stagnate within the body. Furthermore, the lack of movement blocks the pathways of Qi and blood passing through the lower back, resulting in a halt in circulation. In other words, lower back pain without trauma is a condition caused by stagnation. Dongjedang applies external treatments in stages: opening blocked pathways with acupuncture needles and stimulating tissue regeneration in weakened ligaments and fascia using needle insertion and thread embedding. Simultaneously, we combine this with detoxifying and constitution-regulating herbal medicines to flush out accumulated waste and hardened blood, while boosting digestive function and kidney energy. By focusing on changing the underlying bodily conditions that cause recurring pain rather than merely treating localized pain, we aim to address the root cause.