Blockages or emotional trauma, structural imbalances, stress and tension accumulated over many years, and poor movement habits can cause lower back pain. Driving for hours or sitting for prolonged durations can also lead to pain in your lower back.
Fascia tends to conform to your postures; this is the protective sheath and connective tissue responsible for giving you form and shape, in addition to protecting your body.
Whenever this tissue changes to conform to your body, you experience structural imbalance and thus back pain.
For instance, slumped, collapsed sitting postures conform to your fascia, leading to rigidity and chronic tension all over your body.
You can revitalize your body and improve your body awareness by correcting your sitting posture. Your head, shoulders, neck, knees, hips, and ankles should be vertically aligned to prevent lower back pain.
4 Types of Massage Therapies for Lower Back Pain
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a Japanese acupressure variation and word for ‘finger pressure. Just like acupressure, this massage therapy can be focused on your back and uses various kinds of techniques to relieve you of lower back pain.
However, unlike acupressure, shiatsu identifies more channels or meridians and involves the use of stretches in addition to applying pressure.
You need to communicate with your shiatsu back massager to ensure the amount of pressure being applied on your lower back doesn’t cause you too much pain.
Shiatsu uses only fingers in pressure application on your back. And since it doesn’t involve the use of massage oils, you can undergo the therapy without removing your clothes. However, the clothes you wear should be comfortable.
Acupressure
Acupressure can be focused on your lower back to trigger natural pain relievers in your body system and block pain sensations. Typically, this type of massage involves prolonged pressure being applied to your lower back for one to three minutes so you can be relieved of pain.
Just like acupuncture, acupressure has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine that dates back thousands of years. It’s focused on finding your body channels or meridians where your critical ‘qi’ energy flows.
You have twelve main body channels running from your brain to fingertips and related body organs.
You experience unbalanced qi whenever your meridians get blocked and as a result, your body suffers. With acupuncture and acupressure, you get to balance your qi energy by unblocking your channels.
As this happens, endorphins are also released into your body system to prevent the transmission of pain signals from your lower back to the brain.
The manipulation of your nervous system results in enhanced flow of your vital energy and pain relief.
Unlike acupuncture which uses piercings on your back, acupressure involves your practitioner using fingers, objects, or hands to apply pressure to your lower back
Neuromuscular Massage
Also known as ‘trigger point’ massage, neuromuscular massage is a variance of Swedish massage called deep tissue treatment. Unlike other conventional massage techniques such as deep tissue massage, it’s directed medically and focuses on muscular pain relief.
It loosens your lower back muscles to relieve you of pain. It’s ideal if your back pain stems from your tensed back muscles.
Neuromuscular treatment targets your back muscular spasm and tensed muscles hence its trigger point name.
The treatment involves your massage therapist applying pressure on the specific area on your back where pain originates. As a result, you might feel pain during the initial stages of a massage session, but it goes away as the treatment progresses.
Communicate with your therapist the amount of pain you feel is overwhelming so a balance can be found to ensure you don’t feel too much pain. The massage releases lactic acid buildup in your muscles by increasing blood flow to your lower back. With your back relieved of pain, you get to relax and feel more energized.
If you’re asking yourself, ‘Is Deep Tissue Massage Good for Herniated Disc?’ the answer is no. Avoid massage therapy if you have herniated lower back disc.
Swedish Massage
Invented in 1812 by Henry Peter Ling, Swedish massage is the most common type of massage. It’s gentle and involves the use of kneading, long strokes, tapping and vibration, and deep circular movements to recharge and relax your tensed back. Strokes are made towards your heart to improve blood flow and circulation.
Swedish massage can be used with other treatments to relieve your back pain and relax your muscles. Unlike neuromuscular treatment, this massage technique doesn’t use deep pain or pressure points.
It is gentle, non-abrasive, and barely uses friction, hence ideal for persons with sensitive skin. The technique makes use of oil to facilitate smooth, non-abrasive massage strokes.
It also eliminates lactic acid buildup and increases oxygen supply in blood to minimize back muscle pain. You need to be nude with only your underwear on to get this therapy done. Draping is used so only the part being massage at any one point is exposed.
Can Massage Relieve Back Pain?
Massage is an effective therapy for treating different types of back pains. It’s normally used as part of a pain management regime to prepare you for other treatment interventions or exercises. Usually, back pain is just a symptom of other pain conditions. Massage therapy can effectively relieve you of back pain. Since different massages target different parts of your body, you need to know the best massage for lower back pain.
Benefits of Body Massage
Massage therapy can potentially benefit you in the following ways:
- Trigger the release of more ‘feel-good chemicals known as endorphins into your bloodstream
- Improve blood flow and circulation to ensure nutrients reach all your body tissues and muscles
- Relieve insomnia by relaxing your body muscles. Pain is often associated with sleep disorders. With a proper massage, you can fall asleep easily, sleep longer and wake up feeling revitalized.
- Enhance motion range as your body muscles relax. Pain can hamper movement, but with a good massage, you can easily move as you desire.
Conclusion
Although massage therapy is safe in effectively alleviating lower back pain, it should be done with care and diligence.
Take precautions if you have a skin condition and it’s recommended to talk to your doctor before using any type of massage for pain management. However, if you have a heart condition, brittle bones, or fever, massage treatment isn’t for you.
Talk to one of our massage therapists today to find out the best treatment technique for your lower back pain.
