Massage for Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common complaints heard by doctors today. It is highly likely that you will experience some level of back pain during your life. Unfortunately, if the condition does not resolve quickly, you can end up with chronic back pain that can become difficult to treat. The good news is that regular massage treatments can help you manage your back pain and lead a healthier life.

What Causes Back Pain?

Back pain can appear anywhere along your spine, leading to the development of neck pain, mid-back pain, and lower back pain. The most common causes are muscle spasms, sprains or strains of tendons or ligaments, herniated discs, or a variety of degenerative disorders related to the spine.

It is always recommended to get a thorough medical examination if you have chronic back or neck pain to eliminate any serious structural or physiological issues with your spine. X-rays and MRIs of the relevant area can help determine the best treatments for you. If you suddenly experience any unusually symptoms with your back pain, it is best to seek medical attention immediately.

Try to avoid suppressing your back pain with over-the-counter pain killers. While these drugs may provide temporary relief of back pain, they do not help resolve your condition and may cause unwanted side-effect or develop into chemical dependency.

How Can Massage Help Back Pain?

Back pain can be a difficult condition to treat. Often, the cause is related to a postural or repetitive stress on the body. Fortunately, regular massage treatments can help identify which muscles are tight and begin to dissolve this tension to provide relief.

Depending on the severity of your back pain, it may be necessary to have several massage treatments before you have sustainable relief of your back pain. Consult with your massage therapist for the proper frequency of treatment best suited to your condition.

When treating back pain, it is advisable for you to use several methods of massage together to enhance your recovery. Often, an experienced massage therapist will have training in several styles of massage allowing them to use a variety of techniques to help your back pain.

Here are some well-know styles of massage that can be beneficial for back pain:

Swedish Massage:Swedish massage can be an excellent way to start treatment for back pain. The relaxing oil-based massage can release of many of the surface muscles and decrease the emotional stress that may be contributing to your back pain condition.

Deep Tissue Massage:
Deep tissue massage is commonly used in conjunction with Swedish massage to work the deeper muscles of the back. Hard compression and cross fiber friction can be applied to your back muscles to break up any adhesions or scar tissue that may be causing your back pain.

Trigger Point Therapy:
Trigger point therapy can be used to release muscles in your back that are in spasm. By applying steady pressure on the knots in your muscles, you can “reset” the muscle and release the spasm. This will allow fresh blood and nutrients to flow through the area and promote healing. Trigger Point therapy is excellent at correcting postural imbalances of muscles, a common cause of back pain.