Column Do You Know the Acupressure Points for Relieving Back Pain and the Correct Way to Stimulate Them?
August 7, 2026
There are various ways to help relieve lower back pain.
This article explains the pressure points (acupoints/tsubo) effective for easing back pain and how to use them correctly.
Why Are Pressure Points Effective for Back Pain?
Acupressure is a therapeutic approach rooted in Eastern medicine.
According to traditional East Asian medicine, energy circulates to maintain physical and mental health. The pathways through which this energy flows are called meridians, and pressure points are key locations along these meridians on the surface of the body. In Eastern medicine, these points are referred to as acupoints.
Stimulating these acupoints is believed to improve the flow of energy through the meridians, thereby relieving various symptoms.
In biomedical terms, nerves near the skin surface are interconnected with deeper neural networks. Applying pressure to these points stimulates peripheral nerves, improving localized blood flow, easing muscle tightness and stiffness, and ultimately reducing pain.
How to Locate and stimulate Acupressure Points
How to Find Acupoints
The exact location of acupressure points varies from person to person. As a general guide, look for areas where you can feel a slight firmness or lump when pressing, or where the pressure produces a sensation that is “pleasantly painful.”
How to Apply Pressure
Acupressure points are generally stimulated with the fingers.
You can also bundle several toothpicks together and gently tap the area, or use the rounded edge of a plastic bottle.
The appropriate pressure is generally considered to be from comfortably pleasant to slightly painful.
The best timing for acupressure include after bathing, when blood circulation is improved, and before going to bed.
How to Stimulate The Acupressure Points on Your Back by Yourself
When stimulating acupressure points on your back, there is no need to focus excessively on locating the exact point. It is also said that simply pressing an area that feels comfortable can be sufficient.
You can also make use of everyday objects as well. For example, placing a golf ball behind your back while leaning against a chair backrest or lying on the floor works well.
Effective Acupoints for Lower Back Pain
Key pressure points for back pain include the Meimon, Jinyu, and Shishitsu on the lower back, as well as the Ichu behind the knees.
While exhaling, slowly apply pressure over approximately three seconds. Repeat several times at each point.
Avoid stimulating the painful area too much during the acute phase, when pain is severe.
Meimon (GV4 / or Mingmen)
Meimon is an acupressure point located directly behind the navel, on the spine.
According to traditional East Asian medicine, stimulating this point is believed to warm the body, relieve sensitivity to cold, and improve blood circulation in the lower back.
In addition to acupressure, self-care measures such as applying a heat pack may also be beneficial.
Jinyu (BL23 / or Shenshu)
Jinyu is located at approximately the level of the waistline, about two finger-widths outward from the spine.
It is traditionally used to help relieve chronic sensations of coldness and pain in the lower back.
Shishitsu (BL52 / or Zhishi)
Shishitsu is located approximately four finger-widths outward from the waistline, around the level between the second and third lumbar vertebrae.
It is traditionally used to help relieve chronic feelings of heaviness, fatigue, and discomfort in the lower back.
Ichu (BL40 / or Weizhong)
Ichu is located at the center of the crease behind the knee.
It is traditionally used to help relieve heaviness and pain in the legs and lower back.
Treatment at Our Clinics
Our clinic provides specialized treatment for lower back pain caused by intervertebral disc damage.
With our Cellgel Method, a therapeutic agent is injected into damaged or cracked areas of the intervertebral disc. The injected material then turns into a gel-like substance that fills and reinforces the cracks, enabling the treatment to target the underlying disc lesions.
One of the characteristics of this treatment is that it does not reduce the volume of the intervertebral disc. After treatment, the medication remains in the disc as a gel-like implant, thereby preserving the intervertebral disc.
Learn More About the Cellgel Method
Additionally, in collaboration with the OJ Wellness Center, we incorporate approaches from Eastern medicine and Ayurvedic medicine to address various types of lower back pain across a wide range of age groups.
Learn More About the OJ Wellness Center
If you are suffering from lower back pain, please consider visiting our clinic for medical consultation.
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