Back massage therapy offers numerous benefits. While general massage is well known to stimulate blood flow to the muscles and provide relaxation and a pleasurable experience, it does not necessarily provide the therapeutic value required to provide chronic back pain relief sought by sufferers of the condition. Back massage therapy by a specialist however can bring about significant relief within weeks, when therapeutic back massage techniques are applied to combat both lower and upper back pain.

The positive results from back massage therapy can be multiplied when combined with complimentary treatments such as Chiropractic, Physical Therapy or even Acupuncture. A multi discipline approach will work best when the therapists communicate with each other and ‘design’ a program of complimentary treatments to achieve chronic back pain relief through a synergistic approach.

Results can again be significantly improved with the patient taking personal responsibility and being proactive in achieving chronic back pain relief. This can be done with simple measures such as an improved diet, gentle exercise and stretching.

Benefits of Back Massage Therapy

• Massaging causes the muscles to become more relaxed which in turn increases their range of motion. This is an enormous benefit when tension of the muscles causes a restriction in movement. Relaxed muscles also help to reduce insomnia.

• Improved blood supply to the muscles assists with the recovery of muscular soreness from physical activity.

• Massage increases endorphin levels in the body. This is highly beneficial as endorphins are the ‘feel good’ chemicals produced naturally by our bodies. Heightened endorphin levels assist in dealing with chronic back pain.

Precautions

Take note that when receiving massage therapy for the back, the pressure applied during the massage should evoke a response of relaxation in the muscles. If this does not occur the muscles may be inflamed possibly due to an acute injury of the muscle. In this case massage therapy should be put off until the inflammation subsides and it may be advised to consult a doctor.

For best results, muscle spasms generally require four massage treatments, commonly spread over six weeks. Should the muscle spasms not respond to therapy after two massages, it may be advisable to seek an alternative therapy.

Back massage techniques are highly effective in the treatment of chronic back pain, however if the pain is severe it is recommended to first undergo a complete medical check-up prior to beginning a program of back massage therapy.

Conclusion

For those seeking chronic back pain relief there is a wide variety of treatment options available both in conventional medicine and alternative therapies. Whatever your preference of treatment, back massage therapy can be a highly beneficial partner in your quest for relief.

Arthur Bakeright is a qualified but non practicing massage therapist and avid traveler. He now writes extensively on both massage and travel.

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Myofacial trigger points are hyper irritable spots located within skeletal muscle. These spots are associated with nodules of bands of muscle fibers. These nodules become small contractual knots and therefore cause pain to the patient. By focusing on these points with neuromuscular therapy, a massage therapist with the right training can help decrease the contractions and this help relieve the pain. It is a great therapy to assess, treat, and help prevent soft tissue injuries and thus relieve chronic pain. Neuromuscular therapy is often used by occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, chiropractors, and those that practice osteopathic and physical medicine.

The technique of neuromuscular therapy (sometimes referred to as NMT) was developed by Dr. Stanley Leif and Boris Chaitow. Both were trained in chiropractics and naturopathy, which is a philosophy that seeks to improve health by focusing on the body’s innate ability to recover. They worked with Dewanchand Varma and Bernard MacFadden to help develop neuromuscular therapy in order to help patients suffering from soft tissue dysfunction. One part of neuromuscular therapy focuses on the fact that the body can heal itself. Stimulation from neuromuscular therapy can help hasten the natural healing process.

A neuromuscular therapist takes into account many aspects of the patient before beginning therapy. Things like age, stress, prior therapy, family history, diet, and nutrition will be looked at. By looking at the patient’s history and health, they can ascertain what type or how much therapy is needed. They may work with the patient’s primary physician if certain conditions exist. For example, if an elderly woman with a calcium deficient diet had hip or lower back pain; the therapist will need to watch for possible osteoporosis or hip fractures. They may need to alter their procedures to accommodate such patients. They will also look at posture distortion to see what other pains that can be causing.

The therapist will use their thumbs, fingers, and elbows as well as pressure bars during the massage. The pressure bars help release the muscular contractions. One good thing about neuromuscular therapy is it concentrates on placement much more than degree of pressure, so a good deal of pressure is not normally necessary.

Who can be helped by neuromuscular therapy? Anyone that suffers from chronic pain can be helped by neuromuscular massage. Whether you have chronic pain due to an occupational injury, a sports injury, or an automobile injury, if you suffer from chronic pain, you may want to give neuromuscular therapy a try. Others that respond well to neuromuscular therapy are those that suffer from sciatica, rotator cuff dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and even migraine headaches.

Annalisa Zisman, a proficient author and tutor, she is a leading practitioner for many massage courses

Annalisa specializes in Indian Head Massage

Thai Foot and Thai Herbal Compress Massage techniques.

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