Best Back Pain Massage Techniques For A Pain-Free Back
By Urban Company
4 min read
Mar 21, 2024
Discover the art of back massage with expert techniques that relieve your back pain and tension! Most of us spend our day chained to our desks. Our sedentary lifestyle ...
Discover the art of back massage with expert techniques that relieve your back pain and tension!
Most of us spend our day chained to our desks. Our sedentary lifestyle leads to a whole host of health problems. Back pain is perhaps one of the first in the list and likely the most persistent. Massage therapy is one of the best ways to relieve back pain. But before we get into the best
back pain massagetechniques, let’s answer some FAQs you’ve been looking up online.
Is back massage good for back pain?
Yes, back massage can be incredibly effective for alleviating back pain. Back massage by a professional massage therapist doesn’t just help relax tensed muscles but also improves blood circulation and releases endorphins, those happy hormones that also work has our body’s natural painkillers. In fact, regular back massages can help with long-term relief from back pain.
Is it OK to massage the back every day?
No, it isn’t OK to massage the back every day. As fun as it may sound, getting a back massage every day isn’t the best thing for your back. Daily back massages can be excessive and can actually lead to muscle soreness and irritation. If you’re in so much pain that you feel like getting a back massage every day, you likely need medical attention. If you have persistent back pain, it is best to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the frequency that suits your specific needs and conditions. You can then convey these to your massage therapist.
Is a 1-hour massage enough for my back?
Yes, a one-hour massage session is typically sufficient to address general back discomfort and stress. However, the duration of a back massage can vary depending on the severity of your discomfort and the kind of pain you may bee experiencing. If you have a chronic condition, you will likely require longer sessions and regular appointments. You will need to schedule these back pain massage sessions following medical consultation and talk to your massage therapist to tailor the session to your unique requirements.
Back pain massage techniques for pain relief
1. Swedish Massage
2. Deep Tissue Massage
3. Trigger Point Therapy
4. Thai Massage
5. Shiatsu Massage
Swedish Massage
There are different types of massage techniques in
Swedish Massage therapythat help relieve back pain. Effleurage involves long, sweeping strokes from the top of the muscle to the bottom. Petrissage refers to the back pain massage technique that focusses on a single tensed area and involves kneading and rolling motion on the muscle till the muscle relaxes. Tapotement involves light and rhythmic tapping.
These back pain massage techniques enhance blood circulation, reduce muscle tension, and induce overall relaxation.
Deep Tissue Massage
Contrary to what most people believe, deep tissue massage is not for relaxation. When you book a deep tissue massage, expect a lot of pressure on your muscles. The back pain massage technique in a deep tissue massage involves pressing really hard on the sore muscles to target deeper layers of the muscles and connective tissues. This technique helps relax tightly knotted muscles and is effective for chronic pain.
After a deep tissue massage therapy session, you could do well with a warm bath with epsom salts to ease the soreness.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy is exactly what its name suggests — it targets specific trigger points that tend to cause referred pain in other areas.
This type of massage uses similar back pain massage techniques as the deep tissue massage. Your massage therapist will focus on the trigger points and use deep pressure strokes to loosen that part of the muscle.
Again, this is not a massage for relaxation so don’t expect the long, gentle strokes of Swedish Massage.
Thai Massage
The back pain massage techniques in a Thai massage date back a couple of thousand years if not more. These include rhythmic pressure along the ‘sen lines’ and on specific acupressure points to release energy blockages. A Thai massage therapy sessions also involves yoga-like stretching in which the therapist helps you though a series of yoga-like poses that help improve flexibility and joint mobility, release tension in muscles and alleviate back pain. Palming and thumbing are two other back pain massage techniques that involve applying pressure and kneading the muscles. And ultimately, there’s compression in which the therapist applies firm pressure on specific parts of your body using palms, thumbs or feet.. All of these massage techniques help relax your muscles, promote blood circulation, and contribute to overall stress reduction.
Shiatsu Massage
Originating from Japan, Shiatsu Massage involves applying pressure to specific points along the body’s energy pathways.
The back pain massage techniques in a Shiatsu massage involve identifying pressure points along the back and using fingers, thumbs, and palms to apply sustained pressure on those points. The belief is that these points correspond to meridians and can help release tension and improve energy flow while also alleviating muscle tightness and enhancing blood circulation.
Palming and Thumb Walking are two other back pain massage techniques in Shiatsu massage therapy. These techniques — not dissimilar to Thai massage techniques — involve applying continuous, rhythmic pressure using the palms and thumbs, with a walking motion that ease muscle tension in your back.
Shiatsu Massage Therapy shares other commonalities with Thai massage too. Kneading and Stretching are two other back pain massage techniques in Shiatsu that help release tension in the muscles and surrounding connective tissue and help relieve back pain.
To be sure, you cannot carry out these back pain massage technique
sby yourself. Back pain is not something that should be taken lightly. If you’re suffering from chronic back pain, you absolutely must consult a doctor. When you request for a massage, ensure you communicate properly with your therapist about your aches and pains so you get the best out of your massage therapy session.
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