Costochondritis Symptom Relief with Acupuncture Treatment 

Costochondritis is a common injury that is felt among the pediatric population, particularly those that participate in sports. Repetitive movements of the arms can cause inflammation of the Costochondral or Costochondral joints, which connect ribs to the sternum.

Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has treated many patients who have been diagnosed with Costochondritis. It is often a debilitating injury that hinders patients from participating in normal day-to-day activities and can cause enormous amounts of pain if not treated properly. Although many medical practitioners encourage the use of prescribed medications and physical therapies, alternative treatment routes have become widely popular due to the longer lasting symptom relief that is found.

What are Costochondritis Symptoms?

Patients present with unique symptoms, however, there are several that are most felt such as, a sharp stabbing pain that can be felt near the ribcage, below the armpit, in the arm or in the back. The stabbing pain can occur with movement of the arm or become irritated after repetitive movements, such as those experienced while swimming. Pain often worsens with deep breathing and can sometimes last for a brief period or a lengthy one.

A study suggests that Acupuncture works

The National Center for Biotechnology Information presented a study conducted on three pediatric participants who had been diagnosed with Costochondritis. Each subject engaged in a type of sport which required daily training. The sports included fencing, tennis, and swimming, each of which requires repetitive movements of the arms. Before the study, patients were asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most severe. For six weeks, subjects were administered acupuncture treatments including needling, acumassage and electo-stimulation for 15-minute sessions, 1-2 times per week. At the end of the study, each patient was asked again to rate their pain on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most severe. Based off the data collected, medical researchers concluded that the three pediatric patients each demonstrated significant improvement with their Costochondritis symptoms allowing them to re-enter the sporting world and continue their daily activities as normal.

How does acupuncture alleviate Costochondritis symptoms?

Acupuncture works to first tackle the root cause of Costochondritis, which presents uniquely in each patient. Whether the root cause is inflammation, weak muscles, or another injury, through acupuncture treatments the body will be able to identify the issue and begin self-healing processes to relieve varying symptoms. Therapies, such as needling and electro-stimulation, allow for increased blood circulation to the affected areas, which helps lessen inflammation and provides increased oxygenation. During this process, hormones called Endorphins are triggered to produce and release, giving the body natural pain-relief and calming the mind.