Categories: Health

Lower Back Pain and Massage Therapy

March 30, 2016

Lower back pain has become one of the health problems of the century. Almost everybody knows someone with back problems so severe they cannot perform certain activities like remain seated for a long period of time, they have problems driving, standing in one place for a longer period of time, lifting weights or simply getting out of bed in the morning if the night’s sleep was not really perfect. Apart from being uncomfortable, lower back pain can also be a sign of problems with the muscles, a nerve, a disc, the spine or the vertebrae. Before looking into options for massage techniques, the best thing to do is to see a doctor and determine the cause of your pain. Should your pain be caused by anything else but your muscles, massage can risk aggravating it.

Once you have found out that tight or sore muscles are the ones causing you pain, it’s time to choose from the numerous massage techniques designed to make you feel better. Muscle spasms are another reason for lower back pain. Massages improve the blood flow, irrigating the muscles and letting them receive enough oxygen instead of lactic acid.

Neuromuscular Therapy

This technique relies on alternating levels of pressure on the areas affected by spasms. It may feel painful at first, but it works great for pain relief. Pressure is applied for intervals between 10-30 seconds with fingers, knuckles or with the elbows.

Deep Tissue Massage

Chronic lower back pain can be treated with this type of massage technique. It involves slow movements and pressure applied on the painful areas, so as to realign the deeper layers of muscles. Many people can experience discomfort and pain during this type of massage. This is why communicating with the therapist is important.

Myofascial Release

This type of therapy is meant to ease the pain caused by tension and tightness in the Myofascial tissues, which surround every muscle in the body. This is usually a cause of chronic pain, which is very difficult to live with. The therapist looks for the spots where the myofascia feels rigid and tries to stretch it.

Facilitated Stretching

Usually done with a facilitator, this technique relies on isometrics and the core principles of yoga to improve flexibility and mobility. Just like yoga helps all of the muscles feel better by keeping them toned, irrigated and stretched, assisted stretching can help release tense muscles more than a simple workout.

Thai Massage

The therapist will use his/her own body to pull and stretch yours; this means that there is no muscle, big or small, left upstretched. Tension is relieved and blood flow is improved.

Reflexology

A different massage technique, reflexology finds corresponding points on the foot to treat problems all over the body. It improves nerve flow, blood flow and lymph flow to the area of the back affected by the pain.

Of all of these massage techniques, one can solve your lower back pain problem, or a combination of techniques can do the job. It is important to get to the root of the problem and establish, with a specialist, what type of massage you need. This is the most effective way to get good results and improve your health.

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Horvat

Passionate writer and blogger about fitness and health. You only get one body for the rest of your life, learn to take care of it - eat well, exercise and get a good amount of sleep, your body will be thankful.

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