P. Sze 
Suffering from leg pain can greatly diminish anyone’s quality of life. Whether it’s due to muscle spasms or muscle tension or something else entirely, acupressure for leg pain is worth exploring. Although more research is needed, some studies have already shown the efficacy of acupressure. This list discusses five of the best acupressure points for leg pain relief.
Does Acupuncture Help Leg Pain?
Yes, a 2020 study in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine found that acupuncture combined with massage reduction in patients with chronic lumbago and leg pain further improved the clinical efficacy of conventional drug therapy.
How Do You Cure Leg Pain By Acupressure?
The acupressure points for leg pain relief we will talk about next do not cure leg pain, but they can help relieve it for some time. The acupressure points for leg pain relief that you’ll use will depend on the cause or type of the pain. This could be due to nerve damage, cramping, or just regular pain.
How you massage each of the acupressure points to relieve leg pain can be different for each of them. According to healthline.com, for example, when using ST-36, you should press on the point and slowly massage in a clockwise direction.
You should use firm pressure to massage deeply. Keep a calm breath and mind, and stay present and relaxed. Although you can massage this point as often as you’d like, it should be noted that it can have a stimulating effect, so you might want to avoid using it at bedtime.
Acupressure For Leg Pain
Acupoint: Bl-57 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-57/Cheng Shan/Support the Mountain)
BL-57 is the last of our acupressure points for leg pain relief. It is located on the posterior midline of the lower leg between BL-40 and BL-60, when extending the toes straight or lifting the heel, the point is below the gastrocnemius muscle in the apex of the depression.
In addition to being one of the great acupressure points for heel pain, BL-57 is indicated for hemorrhoids, constipation, and beriberi.
It functions by relaxing the sinews, activating the meridian, and treating the heel and foot.
Acupressure For Leg Nerve Pain
Acupoint: Bl-37 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-37/Yin Men/Gate of Abundance)
BL-37 is located on the posterior aspect of the thigh, 6 cun below BL-36, on the line connecting BL-36 and BL-40. It is indicated for lumbar pain, as well as numbness and weakness of the lower extremities. It functions by activating the meridian, benefitting the lumbar area, and relieving pain.
Acupoint: Bl-40 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-40/Wei Zhong/Middle of the Crook)
BL-40 is located at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa, between the tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus. It is classified as the He-Sea point of the Bladder Meridian and the Command Point of the low back.
In addition to being one of the most useful acupressure points for sciatica, it is indicated for erysipelas, rash, general pruritus, furuncle, carbuncle on the back, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, enuresis, and dysuria.
It functions by clearing Heat, resolving Dampness, benefiting the lumbar area and knees, cooling the blood, clearing Summer-Heat, activating the meridian, and relieving pain.
Acupressure For Leg Cramps
Acupoint: ST-36 (Other Names: Stomach-36/Zu San Li/Leg Three Miles)
ST-36 is located on the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun below, ST-35, and one middle finger width from the anterior crest of the tibia. It is classified as the He-Sea point of the Stomach Meridian and the Command point of the Abdomen Point of the Sea of Water and Grain.
In addition to being one of the great acupressure points for knee pain, it is indicated for gastic pain, vomiting, dysphagia, abdonminal distention, borborygmus, diarrhea, indigestion, dysentery, constipation, abdominal pain, acute mastitis, emaciation due to general deficiency, palpitation, shortness of breath, poor appetite, lassitude, dizziness, insomnia, cough and asthma, apoplexy, hemiplegia, beriberi, edema, and depressive psychosis and madness.
It functions by tonifying the Qi and blood, harmonizing and strengthening the spleen and stomach, strengthening the body and Wei qi, raising Yang, calming the Shen, activating the meridian, and stopping pain.
A systemic review examining the efficacy of acupressure showed that self-administered acupressure has the potential to treat various ailments, but more rigorous studies are still needed.
Acupoint: GB-34 (Other Names: Gallbladder-34/Yang Ling Quan/Yang Mound Spring)
GB-34 is located on the lateral aspect of the lower leg, in the depression anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula. It is classified as the He-Sea point of the Gall Bladder Meridian and the Converging point of the Sinews.
In addition to being one of the great acupuncture points for hip pain, it is also indicated for hemiplegia, pain of the shoulder, weakness, numbness and pain of the lower extremities, swelling and pain of the knee, beriberi, pain in the hypochondrium, bitter taste in the mouth, vomiting, jaundice, and infantile convulsion.
It functions by benefitting the sinews and joints, activating the meridian, moving Liver Qi, harmonizing the Shaoyang, and relieving pain.
