This post is about West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Abdominal Muscle and Fascial Pain. Symptoms of abdominal muscle and fascial injury include being painfully flexed over (bent forward). And you can’t seem to straighten up due to the injury. Additionally, pain on bending to the opposite side of the injury is common. Read on to learn more about West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Abdominal Muscle and Fascial Pain.
Causes of Abdominal Muscle and Fascial Injury
Firstly, abdominal muscle and fascial injuries are common in tennis or football players. Secondly, a tennis player hitting an overhead stroke with the ball slightly behind them and reaching back may whip the body forward. This may contract the rectus abdominus muscle into injury. Thirdly, football players due to repetitive movements, like twisting and turning may get this injury as well. Fourthly, anyone can incur this injury through the following:
–Overuse/Repetitive movements involving the abdominal muscles and fascia
-Sudden/Fast movements, twisting, or jumping
-Muscle fatigue/Strenuous activity
Abdominal Muscle and Fascia Anatomy
Almost all the muscles that originate or insert into the pelvis may be strained including the rectus abdominis, external oblique, latissimus dorsi, gluteus maximus and medius, tensor fasciae latae, sartorius, quadratus lumborum, iliocostalis lumborum and transversus abdominis muscle. The various soft tissue structures that may get injured include:
- the muscles, which allow you to move.
- the tendons, which connect your muscles to the bone.
- the ligaments which are bands of tough elastic tissue around your joints. They connect bone to bone, give your joints support, and limit their movement.
- the fascia – stretchy, thin, white fibrous tissue. All your muscles are enveloped in fascia.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Hip Pointer
Strain and contusion (bruise) of the muscles attached to the iliac crest (top part of ilium/hip bone) are referred to as a hip pointer injury. This may lead to abdominal muscle spasm and pain. There may be swelling and ecchymosis (discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath). Hip pointer causes include traumatic contusion of the iliac crest and contact sports. Pain is immediate and acute. And you may flex toward the side of your injury. Next, swelling may present over the hip area with pain in both the hip and abdominal muscles.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Chronic Abdominal Fascial Strain
You may have groin pain above the inguinal ligament (ligament located in the groin area) due to a fascial strain. And this injury is usually seen in runners. Moreover, it may end up as a chronic problem.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: What is a Sprain or Strain?
A sprain is a sudden or violent twisting injury of a joint with stretching or tearing of ligaments. And a strain occurs when a muscle is overstretched or torn. This usually occurs as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper use. Furthermore, damage to your attached tendons can also occur with a strain.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture Treatment for Abdominal Muscle and Fascial Pain- Research
First, one study looked at Abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) which is a leading cause of Chronic abdominal wall pain (CAWP). ACNES is a frequent and commonly overlooked cause of chronic abdominal wall pain. It occurs when small intercostal sensory nerves are compressed. This happens in the muscular layers and fibrous rings in the rectus abdominis muscle. Typically, patients report localized, persistent, or recurrent stabbing pain, burning sensations, or abdominal tenderness. Moreover, fibrous inflammation, adhesions, or pressure changes can lead to nerve entrapment.
Second, the study stated the common problem of misdiagnosis of this syndrome. Therefore, the acute pain would become a complex chronic state.
Third, a case study noted in this study was a woman who had chronic abdominal pain with constipation for several years. Management included long-term laxatives, analgesics, and psychological counseling. After acupuncture treatment, this patient reported significant pain relief. Furthermore, weekly acupuncture treatments over 12 weeks nearly eliminated the abdominal pain. Sleep and constipation improved though occasional laxatives were still required. Finally, after 4 additional treatments, she was pain-free.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture Treatment for Abdominal Muscle and Fascial Pain- More Research
First, the next research study involves a case with dyspnea. Dyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath or the subjective feeling of difficult, labored, or uncomfortable breathing. It can involve cardiovascular and respiratory disease as the cause. Moreover, the causation can be multifactorial. Therefore, treatment has to target neurological, hematologic (blood related), psychologic and musculoskeletal disease.
Second, in this study, the researchers describe an (unknown cause) idiopathic dyspnea case. The patient was unresponsive to medical drug interventions. Subsequently, the study stated the dyspnea completely resolved with acupuncture of abdominal trigger points. Trigger points are hyperirritable spots. Also, they are a palpable nodule in the taut bands of the skeletal muscles’ fascia. Additionally, the closest “points” related to trigger points in acupuncture are called ashi points.
Third, scar tissue where the rectus abdominus attaches and the abdominal fascia blends into the pectoralis can lead to difficult breathing movements . Upon palpation, significant trigger points were found in the rectus abdominus. The trigger points were released utilizing acupuncture needling. And immediate improvement of breathing was the outcome.
Fourth, the study noted the possibility of myofascial trigger points (MTP) in the differential diagnosis for dyspnea. Indeed, Acupuncture is a noninvasive and cost effective treatment for dyspnea due to MTP.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture Treatment for Abdominal Muscle and Fascial Pain
Acupuncture has been used for over 4000 years to treat pain and other health problems. Acupuncture effects what the ancient chinese practitioners called Meridians (energy channels) in your body under the skin. Traditional acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy, or “life force”, flows through the body in these channels called meridians.
Today, Researchers believe when an acupuncture needle is inserted, nerves are stimulated. This sends a message to your brain and nervous system. Ultimately, Acupuncture improves blood flow and calms the nervous system. This triggers nerve signaling that affects the function of other parts of the body, including organs.
Dr. Natalie Meiri is a chiropractic physician, board certified in acupuncture with over 20 years of experience. Call 561-253-8984 today! Ask to make an appointment or find out more about: West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture Treatment for Abdominal Muscle and Fascial Pain.
References:
- Rethinking chronic abdominal wall pain: A new approach to integrating Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine
lYu Ning Susan Hu , Fuhui Dong
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences
Volume 12, Issue 4, October 2025, Pages 464-469
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754825000870
2. Myofascial Pain and Treatment Acupuncture to abdominal trigger points as treatment for idiopathic dyspnea: A case study
Brian H. Kang , Chi-Tsai Tang
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859221000309