HOW MASSAGE THERAPY CAN HELP WITH BACK PAIN

Massage therapy can be highly beneficial if you’re suffering from back pain.

There are various types of massage that can target back pain and tension. Some forms of massage are: Holistic, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aromatherapy, Hot Stones but Sports or remedial massage would be more beneficial for a more focused massage if your suffering from back pain.

Sports Massage

Sports massage uses specific techniques, stretches and various forms of bodywork such as myofascial release and trigger point therapy, helping to realign the muscle fibres and connective tissue. This facilitates healing, alleviates pain and stiffness and helps to prevent prevent injury.

Other ways to help back pain.

There are plenty of exercises and stretches that can help with back pain and tension and even if you don’t have pain, it is important to incorporate some sort of stretches or strengthening exercises into our daily lives. Yoga and Pilates is particularly good for keeping our backs in good working order.

Here are several ways massage helps:

1. Muscle Relaxation and Tension Relief

• Tension Release: Massage helps release tight or contracted muscles in the back, which is often a cause of pain. It can break the pain-tension cycle, which occurs when muscles become tense due to pain and then create more discomfort due to tightness.
• Improved Flexibility: By relaxing the muscles, massage improves flexibility, which helps reduce stiffness and pain.

2. Improved Blood Circulation

• Oxygen and Nutrient Delivery: Increased circulation brings more oxygen and nutrients to the affected muscles, which helps in healing any damaged tissues in the back.
• Reduced Inflammation: Better blood flow also helps remove waste products and reduce inflammation, a common cause of back pain.

3. Trigger Point Therapy

• Relieving Knots and Tension: A massage can target “trigger points” (areas of tightness or muscle knots), which are common in those suffering from chronic back pain. This can release built-up tension and relieve localized pain.

4. Endorphin Release

• Natural Pain Relief: Massage stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. This not only reduces back pain but also elevates mood, improving the overall experience of pain relief.

5. Stress Reduction

• Reducing Anxiety and Tension: Chronic pain can increase stress and tension. Massage helps lower cortisol (the stress hormone), which may reduce muscle tightness and prevent stress from worsening back pain.

6. Improved Posture

• Correcting Imbalances: Poor posture is a common cause of back pain. Massage helps loosen muscles that are tight and strengthens weaker ones, leading to improved posture. This can ease stress on the spine and help prevent future pain.

7. Lymphatic Drainage

• Detoxification: Lymphatic massage can assist in removing toxins from the muscles and tissues, which helps reduce swelling and inflammation, improving recovery from injury or chronic pain.

8. Chronic Pain Management

• Long-Term Relief: For those with chronic conditions like sciatica or herniated discs, regular massage therapy can help manage pain over the long term by addressing muscular imbalances and promoting healing.

9. Relaxing the Nervous System

• Calming Effect: Massage has a calming effect on the nervous system, which can help interrupt pain signals and make you feel more relaxed and less focused on the pain.

For back pain, specific types of massage—such as deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, or sports massage—can be more effective depending on the nature of the pain.

Massage in the Workplace

Chair massage in the workplace can also help with back and neck pain. It offers benefits for both employees and employers. Chair massage is applied to the whole back while the person is still fully clothed.

• • Chair massage is known for its ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation. In a high-pressure work environment, regular chair massages can help employees manage stress levels, leading to improved overall well-being.

Who can benefit from massage therapy.

Massage therapy for back pain can help a wide range of people, including computer users, manual workers and sporty people.  If you have general muscle tension and tightness, chronic, acute or ongoing pain, deep tissue massage can be beneficial before and after a sporting event.

For  more information on massage treatments, please go to www.ingoodhands-wellbeing.co.uk