Working in an office for extended periods, back pain has become an "occupational disease" for urban dwellers? Whether it's a sudden acute back sprain or persistent chronic back pain, it quietly erodes your work efficiency and quality of life. Conventional Western medical treatments primarily involve painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, or physical therapy, which can temporarily relieve symptoms, but many patients find that the pain often recurs.
Siu Yi Tong's integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy emphasizes "treating both symptoms and root causes". It aims to identify the underlying reasons for back pain and combines a four-in-one therapy including acupuncture, bone setting, Tui Na massage, and internal Chinese herbal medicine to help you thoroughly get rid of back pain from its source.
What is back pain? Why is it so common?
Back pain refers to pain occurring in the lower back region and is one of the most common pain conditions globally. According to World Health Organization data, back pain is a leading cause of activity limitation and absenteeism. In Hong Kong, with the prevalence of office culture and smartphones, the incidence of back pain continues to rise, with many young people already suffering from it. Back pain can be simple muscle soreness or radiating pain caused by a herniated disc compressing nerves, commonly known as "sciatica" – where pain travels from the lower back and buttocks down to the thigh and even the calf, severely affecting daily mobility.
Are you among the high-risk groups for back pain?
Back pain is by no means exclusive to the elderly. The following four types of people especially need to pay attention to their back health and prevent it early.
🪑
Office Workers who Sit for Long Periods
Maintaining a fixed sitting posture for extended periods is the number one cause of urban back pain. Prolonged sitting causes the lumbar muscles to be under static load for a long time, leading to poor circulation of qi and blood, which can accumulate over time and cause lumbar muscle strain. Additionally, many people habituate crossing their legs and hunching over, further accelerating lumbar disc degeneration and pressure imbalance.
🏗️
Manual Laborers
Occupations that involve frequent bending, twisting, or lifting heavy objects, such as handling, construction, and warehousing, repeatedly stress the back muscles and ligaments, making them highly susceptible to acute back sprains (commonly known as "slipped disc") or chronic strain. If not handled properly, it can easily develop into recurring chronic back pain.
🤱
Pregnant and Postpartum Mothers
During pregnancy, the growing abdomen shifts the body's center of gravity forward, significantly increasing pressure on the lumbar spine; coupled with hormonal changes that loosen ligaments, lumbar stability decreases. Postpartum qi and blood deficiency, and bending over for breastfeeding and lifting actions while caring for a baby, further exacerbate back pain.
🏃
Sports Enthusiasts
Sports such as running, weight training, and golf, if performed with incorrect posture or excessive training, can lead to lumbar muscle tears, misalignment of lumbar facet joints, or disc injuries. Exercise habits lacking proper warm-up and stretching are also hidden causes of back pain.
Does any of the above describe you? The longer you delay treating back pain, the longer it takes to heal.
📅 Book a TCM Consultation NowTCM's View on Back Pain: "Pain Due to Obstruction, Pain Due to Malnourishment"
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classical theory views the lumbar region as the "residence of the kidney," indicating that lumbar health is closely related to the strength of kidney qi. TCM's understanding of back pain goes beyond localized structural damage, emphasizing the balance of qi and blood in the body's organs. As an ancient saying goes: "Pain due to obstruction, pain due to malnourishment"—meaning that pain can arise from blocked meridians or insufficient nourishment of qi and blood to the organs. While the causes of back pain are diverse, TCM clinically categorizes it mainly into the following three patterns.
Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Type Back Pain
This type is commonly seen in patients with a history of traumatic injury or prolonged poor posture. Trauma or strain leads to obstruction of lumbar meridians, causing localized qi stagnation and blood stasis. Typical symptoms include: sharp, stabbing pain in the lower back, fixed pain that worsens with pressure, increased pain when turning over at night, and significantly restricted range of motion. The tongue often appears purplish or with ecchymosis, and the pulse is typically wiry or hesitant.
Cold-Damp Invasion Type Back Pain
In Hong Kong, strong indoor air conditioning in summer, coupled with many people's preference for cold drinks or living in damp environments, makes it easy for cold-damp pathogens to invade lumbar meridians, causing qi and blood to congeal and stagnate. Typical symptoms include: cold, heavy, dull pain in the lower back, difficulty turning, pain that does not lessen with rest, significantly worsened on rainy or damp days. Patients often also experience heavy limbs and poor appetite, indicating spleen deficiency with dampness.
Kidney Qi Deficiency Type Back Pain
This is the most common type of chronic back pain in clinical practice, often seen in elderly individuals, those weakened by prolonged illness, or people experiencing long-term overwork. The kidney is the foundation of congenital essence; when kidney essence is deficient, the lumbar region is malnourished. Typical symptoms include: dull, aching, weak, and persistent pain in the lower back, exacerbated by fatigue and slightly relieved by rest. It is often accompanied by low spirits, weak legs, dizziness, tinnitus, and even frequent night urination, all signs of kidney deficiency.
Siu Yi Tong's Integrated Therapy: Treating Both Symptoms and Root Causes to Eliminate Back Pain
Siu Yi Tong's treatment team is led by experienced registered Chinese medicine practitioners. Among them, Physician Cheung Yung, a disciple of Professor Long Ceng-Hua, a national-level renowned TCM physician and founder of spinal etiology therapy, specializes in treating spinal pain with precise and gentle bone-setting techniques. We firmly believe that only by "differentiating symptoms and applying appropriate treatment, addressing both symptoms and root causes" can we truly resolve the source of back pain, rather than merely suppressing symptoms. Here are the core methods for treating back pain at Siu Yi Tong.
🪡 Acupuncture to Dredge Meridians — Unblock Channels, Rapid Pain Relief
Acupuncture is a classic TCM treatment for back pain. The physician will select relevant acupoints in the lumbar and leg regions, such as Shenshu, Weizhong, Yaoyangguan, and Dachangshu, based on your pattern, to dredge meridians, promote qi and blood circulation, and relieve muscle spasms. Many patients report significant pain reduction and improved mobility after their first treatment. Acupuncture is particularly effective for immediate pain relief in acute back sprains and sciatica.
🦴 Pain-Relief Tui Na & Long's Bone Setting — Addressing the Root Cause of Pain Structurally
Siu Yi Tong's pain-relief Tui Na is not just a regular relaxing massage. The physician uses professional techniques to deeply treat tight fascia, trigger points, and spasmodic muscle groups along the meridian pathways, restoring the flexibility of lumbar soft tissues. After Tui Na, Long's Bone Setting technique—known for its precision, gentleness, and safety—is applied to correct misaligned lumbar facet joints, restoring balanced pressure on the intervertebral discs and structurally eliminating the source of nerve compression. For sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation or lumbar facet joint dysfunction, bone setting is often key to effective treatment.
🌿 Internal Chinese Herbal Medicine — Regulating from Within, Consolidating Treatment Effects
While external treatments address meridian and structural issues, internal Chinese herbal medicine targets underlying pathologies such as "kidney deficiency," "cold-dampness," and "blood stasis." The physician will prescribe personalized herbal formulas based on the differential diagnosis—tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening the waist and bones for kidney deficiency; warming meridians to disperse cold and dampness for cold-dampness; invigorating blood and resolving stasis, regulating qi to relieve pain for blood stasis—thereby fundamentally consolidating treatment effects and significantly reducing recurrence rates.
💡 Unsure which therapy is best for you?
During your first consultation, our TCM physician will thoroughly evaluate your symptoms and constitution to develop the most suitable personalized treatment plan for you.
Book your first consultation now →Your Treatment Experience at Siu Yi Tong
Upon your first visit to Siu Yi Tong, you can expect a comprehensive and meticulous Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostic process. First, a registered TCM physician will conduct a traditional "look, listen, inquire, and feel" examination, thoroughly understanding the location, nature, onset pattern of your pain, as well as your lifestyle and past medical history. Next, based on this information, the physician will perform a differential diagnosis to accurately determine the pattern and cause of your back pain. Building on this, the physician will develop a personalized treatment plan, combining acupuncture, Tui Na, and bone-setting techniques best suited for you. After the treatment course, the physician will also provide guidance on daily posture correction, dietary advice, and targeted rehabilitation exercises to help you consolidate treatment effects in daily life and prevent back pain recurrence.
⚠️ Warning! Seek immediate medical attention if you experience these back pain red flags
While most back pain can be effectively treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine, a small number of cases are considered medical "red flags", indicating potentially serious underlying conditions that require urgent attention. If your back pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, it is advisable to immediately go to the emergency room or contact your family doctor: pain accompanied by numbness or weakness in one or both legs, with an abnormal sensation of "stepping on cotton"; sudden onset of urinary or fecal incontinence or difficulty urinating; unexplained persistent fever or sudden weight loss; or back pain caused by severe trauma (such as a fall from a height, traffic accident) and severe pain that is unbearable. These symptoms may indicate conditions such as cauda equina syndrome, infection, or tumors, which require immediate intervention. Do not delay seeking medical help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Back Pain
Is it necessary to have X-rays or MRIs for back pain before treatment?
Not necessarily. A TCM physician can accurately determine the pattern and cause of back pain and formulate a treatment plan through the traditional "look, listen, inquire, and feel" diagnostic methods, combined with palpation to examine lumbar mobility and tender points, in most cases. If the physician suspects conditions such as fractures, tumors, or severe nerve compression during the diagnosis, they will recommend imaging examinations to rule out conditions requiring Western medical intervention. If you already have X-ray or MRI reports, please bring them to your consultation, as they can help the physician assess your condition more comprehensively.
How many treatment sessions are usually needed for back pain with TCM?
The number of treatment sessions varies from person to person, depending on the cause, duration of the condition, and individual constitution. Generally, acute back sprains can show significant improvement in about 1 to 3 sessions with acupuncture and bone-setting techniques. For chronic back pain or sciatica caused by herniated discs, it is usually recommended to have 6 to 10 sessions as a first phase, then adjust based on recovery. Siu Yi Tong's TCM physicians will provide an estimated duration and recommendations for your treatment course during your first consultation, based on your specific condition.
Is acupuncture treatment for back pain very painful?
The needles used in acupuncture are very fine. Most patients only feel a slight prick or a sensation of "soreness, distension, or numbness" (de qi sensation) when the needles are inserted, which is a normal therapeutic response, not pain. Siu Yi Tong's TCM physicians are highly skilled and adjust the depth and intensity of needling according to the patient's tolerance. Many patients who try acupuncture for the first time report that the actual experience is much more comfortable than expected, and their back feels significantly relaxed after treatment.
Is bone setting safe? Are there any risks?
Siu Yi Tong adopts Long's Bone Setting technique, which originates from Professor Long Ceng-Hua's spine etiology therapy system, a national-level renowned TCM physician. It is known for its "stability, precision, gentleness, and agility," distinctly different from rough manipulations involving forceful twisting. Before bone setting, the physician will fully relax muscles and ligaments with Tui Na, then perform repositioning with precise angles and gentle force, ensuring the entire process is gentle and controlled. Physician Cheung Yung, as a disciple of Professor Long Ceng-Hua, has extensive clinical experience. Patients typically only feel a slight joint click during the procedure, without significant discomfort.
What is the difference between sciatica and general back pain?
General back pain is usually localized to the lumbar region, presenting as soreness, stiffness, or dull pain. Sciatica, on the other hand, is caused by a herniated disc, bone spurs, or lumbar facet joint misalignment compressing the sciatic nerve. The pain radiates from the lower back and buttocks down the back of the thigh, potentially extending to the calf and foot, and may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness. The treatment strategies for the two differ: sciatica often requires bone setting to relieve nerve compression, combined with acupuncture for pain and inflammation, and internal Chinese herbal medicine for holistic conditioning. It is recommended to visit Siu Yi Tong for a professional diagnosis by a TCM physician to differentiate the type of pain and receive targeted treatment.
Should I rest in bed or stay active when back pain flares up?
Both modern medical research and TCM clinical experience indicate that during the first 24 to 48 hours of an acute back pain flare-up, appropriate rest is beneficial, but prolonged bed rest is not recommended. Excessive bed rest can lead to lumbar muscle atrophy and joint stiffness, delaying recovery. Within tolerable pain limits, maintaining moderate daily activities and gentle stretching helps promote qi and blood circulation and accelerates recovery. Of course, the ideal approach is to seek medical attention as soon as possible, so that a TCM physician can provide activity guidelines and treatment based on your specific condition.
Where are Siu Yi Tong's clinics located? How do I make an appointment?
Siu Yi Tong has two clinics. The Wan Chai clinic is located on the 11th floor of Yau Hong Building, 90 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai (Wan Chai MTR Exit C). Physician Cheung Yung is the resident TCM practitioner. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 9:30 am–7:00 pm. Appointments can be confirmed instantly via Fresha online booking or by WhatsApp at 5427 3297. The Jordan clinic is located on the 3rd floor, Jianneng Development Building, 59 Parkes Street, Jordan (Jordan MTR Exit C2). Physician Cheng Yiu Chun is the resident TCM practitioner. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am–7:30 pm. Please WhatsApp 5993 9638 to schedule an appointment. Both clinics are closed on public holidays.
What are the treatment fees for back pain?
Siu Yi Tong's fees vary depending on the combination of treatment items. For details, please refer to the Consultation Fees page, or directly inquire via WhatsApp at the Wan Chai clinic (5427 3297) / Jordan clinic (5993 9638). During your first consultation, the TCM physician will provide a detailed evaluation and explain the recommended treatment plan and corresponding fees, allowing you to make an informed decision.
Don't let back pain steal your quality of life
Instead of enduring the pain or relying on painkillers long-term, solve the problem from its root. Siu Yi Tong's team of professional TCM physicians, combining acupuncture, Long's bone setting, Tui Na, and internal Chinese herbal medicine, has helped countless back pain sufferers regain a pain-free life.
📅 Book Now and Regain a Pain-Free Life →Wan Chai Clinic
📍 11/F, Yau Hong Building, 90 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
(Wan Chai MTR Exit C)
📞 Phone: 2736 7473
💬 WhatsApp: 5427 3297
🕘 Mon to Sat 9:30am–7:00pm
(Closed on Public Holidays)
Jordan Clinic
📍 3/F, Jianneng Development Building, 59 Parkes Street, Kowloon
(Jordan MTR Exit C2)
📞 Phone: 2736 7033
💬 WhatsApp: 5993 9638
🕘 Mon to Sat 10:00am–7:30pm
(Closed on Public Holidays)