Posted on August 27, 2022.

Ever had a back massage? If you are one of the millions of back pain sufferers, you might want to consider this form of therapy to help relieve your pain. Here are five things you should know about therapeutic massage.

Does it Work?

Massage is a popular therapy that helps millions of people with a wide variety of spinal conditions, including:

• Muscle tension
• Muscle spasms
• Inflammation
• Aches
• Stiffness
• Pain

Using hands or specialized tools, a massage therapist kneads, rubs, and strokes the affected muscles to increase blood flow (circulation) throughout the body. This, in turn, delivers oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and helps eliminate any acids or other waste products that accumulate there, thereby relieving pain.

Types of Massage

There are many types of massage, but the most common ones are:

• Swedish massage: Combines light stroking in one direction with deep pressure in another to relax muscles
• Deep tissue massage: Targets chronic muscle tension using slower strokes and more direct pressure and friction
• Myofascial release: Releases tension stored in the fascia (fibrous tissue that encase and support muscles); often used after a muscle injury
• Trigger point and myotherapy: Direct pressure placed on trigger points to cause their release; at the same time, the therapist stretches the muscle while using a cooling agent sprayed onto the skin.
• Shiatsu: An oriental therapy based on acupressure.
• Reiki: A Japanese form of massage that seeks to adjust the body's energy.

Warnings

Of course, before getting a massage or starting any type of therapy or treatment, talk to your doctor or nurse. Make sure there are no restrictions on the type or duration of massage you can get. Keep in mind, therapeutic massage is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor if massage does not help relieve your pain or increases your discomfort.

Source: Spine Universe