Shiatsu for Chronic Pain: How it Helps
What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a Japanese bodywork therapy with its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Based up on the same principles as acupuncture, shiatsu utilises finger pressure instead of needles to stimulate specific points on the body. These points are located along pathways called meridians, which can be understood as a circulatory system of energy or ‘Qi’.
The purpose of shiatsu is to smooth the flow of energy within the meridians and stimulate the body's own natural healing mechanism. As well as acupressure, shiatsu practitioners incorporate stretching, gentle manipulation, mobilisation, and massage techniques into treatments to address a variety of health complaints.
Shiatsu for Chronic Pain
In Chinese medicine, pain is primarily understood as a disruption in the smooth flow of Qi and blood, resulting in blockages or stagnation in the body. This disruption can be caused by a variety of factors including environmental influences, internal imbalances, injuries, or (most commonly) a combination of the three.
Shiatsu works to smooth the flow of Qi and blood in the body by removing blockages and thereby relieving pain. It is particularly effective for treating painful conditions because the practitioner can target the source of the issue with acupressure while using other techniques to clear stagnation from the tissues on a more general level, improving range of motion and preventing relapse.
It has also been shown that shiatsu can stimulate sensory nerves in the body, which leads to the release of natural pain-relieving substances like endorphins. This stimulation also influences how the central nervous system processes pain and may enhance blood flow, which can contribute to pain relief.
What I Treat
The chronic and recurrent pain conditions I see most commonly in my clinic include –
Low back pain.
Neck & shoulder pain.
Jaw pain.
Sciatica.
Frozen shoulder.
Arthritis.
Fibromyalgia.
Sports injuries.
Plantar fasciitis.
Menstrual pain.
Headaches.
Grace Flynn is a licensed acupuncturist and shiatsu (Japanese acupressure massage) Therapist with over seven years experience working and training in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Shiatsu is a Japanese bodywork therapy based on Traditional Chinese Medicine that works with the classical meridian channels and acupressure points to balance energy in the body.
In her practice, Grace combines shiatsu with clinical massage to treat acute and chronic pain in the body. She employs a wide range of techniques - including acupressure, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, mobilisation, deep tissue massage, stretching, and gentle manipulation - which work together to relieve pain, reduce muscular tension and improve range of motion.
Each treatment is tailored to the individual needs of the client and focuses upon the areas of the body most in need of attention, providing immediate and lasting relief from painful conditions.