Back Pain Massage

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Back Pain Massage

Is it good to get a massage for back pain?

Massage Therapy for Back Pain – Massage is an excellent, non-invasive way to relieve back tension and the pain associated with it. Massage Therapy for back pain can also be a very helpful relaxation technique because it releases endorphins, which create feelings of euphoria and happiness in the brain.

Recovery of sore muscles or injury by helping the blood supply provide nutrients to the tissues Relieving tension “knots” in the back or shoulder muscles, which many people acquire due to stress Improvement in the quality of sleep Releasing endorphins which help reduce symptoms of Depression Stress reduction Elimination of toxins in the muscles

What is the best massage to relieve back pain?

Deep Tissue Massage for Back Pain – Medium to strong pressure is used in deep tissue massage to reach those layers of tissue that lay further down in the back muscles. This technique is used to break up knots and relieve tension to provide a longer-lasting relief. Deep tissue massage reaches the connective tissue that can often cause chronic pain from tight muscles and fascia.

How massage can help lower back pain?

Types and Styles of Massage – There are two basic types of massage: whole body and structural. The whole body massage promotes general relaxation. The spine massage techniques that target specific muscles and connective tissue are called structural massages.

A structural massage that targets the muscles from the buttocks and up to the neck is effective for relieving lower back pain. Some massage styles include the whole body with a special focus on a targeted area. However, all massage styles have the likelihood of helping to relieve pain. The best style to have the most impact depends on what is causing the pain and preferences of the patient or client.

The various styles of massage include, but are not limited to:

  • Swedish massage – a whole body gentle massage for relaxation and to relieve muscle knots.
  • Shiatsu massage – a Japanese style whole body massage using pulsing pressure and includes a focus on areas of the body needing attention.
  • Trigger point massage – the whole body that includes an extra focus on specific areas of pain caused by tightness (trigger points) in muscle tissues.
  • Deep tissue massage – a whole-body massage that uses pressure to relieve tension in deeper layers of connective tissues and muscles.

There are other styles of massage, like Reflexology and Sports Massage, but the ones listed are some of the more common. For people who experience back pain, massage therapy can bring much-needed relief. There is no set amount of sessions recommended because each situation is different.

When should I not get a back massage?

First Rule of Thumb: – “When in doubt, always ask.” You can and should always ask your Massage Therapist (MT) beforehand about any questions you may have or conditions you are facing. Your MT will be able to advise you on whether or not a massage is indicated and even on the time-frame for having one.

MT’s are educated in certain health conditions. You can also always ask your Medical Doctor for advice on massage therapy based on your particular health plan as well. Massage therapy is contraindicated (meaning – should not be done) if there is an active infection in the region being massaged. The massage can actually cause the infection to spread.

People should also not get a massage if they are currently experiencing a fever. This can make the fever even worse. There are also certain skin conditions that should not be massaged over. These areas can be avoided; be sure to ask your MT beforehand so that they can advise you on this.

What are the 4 types of back massage?

1. Basic Massage – The first thing that every student must master is “the basics.” The four basic massage strokes are effleurage-(light or deep stroking), petrisage-(kneading), tapotement-(gentle slapping), and friction. Effleurage is meant for relaxation and the release of tension.

This is how you begin and end every massage to ensure that your patient has maximum relaxation. Petrisage, or kneeding, is actually a practice of pulling the muscle away from the bone which aids in relieving muscle spasms. Generally, if anything hurts in a massage session this is it, but this movement is not meant to be painful.

The therapist must communicate with the client to ensure maximum comfort. The action of tapotement is much like the name sounds. It is a gentle tapping or cupping of the skin with the hand to create a percussion-like effect. This motion is most preferred by healthy clients with exceptional muscle mass, but is not recommended for patients with ailments.

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How often should you get a massage?

Is it good to get a massage every week? – Generally, one massage a week is recommended, especially if you have a specific health condition or injury. Regular massages can help manage symptoms and promote healing, it can also help with pain relief, improve flexibility and range of motion, and promote overall well-being.

Can you massage your own back?

Self-massage for back pain – Desk jobs can cause aches and pains in our backs – but there are ways to combat the unsightly slouch. Get yourself a foam roller and loosen up those back muscles with this simple self-massage:

Lie with your back flat on the floor and your feet shoulder-width apart.Place a foam roller on the midsection of your back, just under your shoulder blades.Rock your body up and down, towards and away from your feet, to massage your back and loosen up those pressure points.

How often should you massage your back?

Back pain – A regular massage may ease your back pain, One study showed that deep tissue massage performed daily for 30 minutes for 10 days reduced pain in patients. The American College of Physicians now lists massage as a treatment for low back pain that lasts up to 12 weeks.

Why is it important to massage your back?

How Does Massage Therapy Help? – Living in this modern age affects our bodies. Chronic stress and anxiety cause extra muscle tension. All the attention to screens affects our posture. In addition, many modern jobs are spent behind a desk or in other inactive occupations.

Managing Stress : Massage relieves muscle tension often caused by stress. In addition, it provides a brief “time-out” period where you enjoy a relaxing break from your daily routine. Promoting Overall Health : Massage helps to promote soft tissue health. It may also make you more aware of how your lifestyle affects your body. Relieving Chronic Pain : Massage targets the body’s pain by eliminating muscle tension and increasing flexibility. This can help to reduce your need for pain medications. Improving Mood : The endorphins released during a massage gives your mood a quick boost. This can help with anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. Faster Recovery Times : If you sustained a back or neck strain, then massage helps to speed up the recovery process. Preventing Injuries : When muscles are healthy and flexible, there is less chance of injury. Better Circulation : The pressure used during massage encourages blood to flow through congested or damaged areas, bringing healing factors to the site of your injury. In addition, massage aids in drawing metabolic waste away from the muscles. Improved Range of Motion : You will experience better movement in your joints by decreasing muscle tension.

What body parts should not be massaged?

These are areas of the body where deep, sustained pressure should be avoided because of the structures that lie beneath. Those areas are the anterior and posterior triangles of the neck, suprasternal notch, sternum, axilla, spinal column, umbilical area, inguinal triangle, popliteal fossa, and the antecubital fossa.

What is inappropriate during a massage?

By Ben Benjamin, PhD October 2, 2014 All massage therapy experiences should be provided in a safe, comfortable and trusting environment. No one should ever do anything to your body that you have not given permission for. A therapist should never be sexual in any way with a client.

  1. That includes sexual touching, sexually explicit comments to or any sexual act whatsoever.
  2. Every well-trained massage therapist understands – or should understand – the guidelines that follow.
  3. Client Intake After initially greeting a new client, the therapist and client agree on the type of session, if it was not clearly prescribed when booking the appointment.

In a spa or wellness setting, a client may have selected a particular type of treatment and this should be clear without discussion. However, the therapist always asks if there are any areas you particularly want worked on or completely avoided. The extent of the history-taking depends on why the client is there.

If they are coming for a relaxation massage, the therapist will ask certain questions to make sure the treatment is safe. At a minimum, the therapist should ask about any surgeries, medical conditions, medication, injuries, pain, skin conditions, allergies to anything the therapist may be using and any sensitive areas.

A woman should be asked if she is pregnant. Who’s In Charge? The client is always in charge. If a therapist of any kind ever does anything that makes a client emotionally or sexually uncomfortable, the client should speak up immediately or just tell the therapist they want to terminate the session and leave.

  • Clients see a massage therapist for many reasons.
  • Some come for a relaxing massage, postsurgical or post-cancer treatment, or for pain or injury treatment.
  • In some types of massage and bodywork, there may be some physical discomfort.
  • Be sure that you and your client have agreed on how much discomfort is okay and how much is too much.

For example, if treating for an injury, there may be some discomfort, which is part of the treatment process. If a client comes for some myofascial or Rolfing work, inform them that this kind of treatment, which is very different from massage, can be quite painful.

Nudity and Draping Every client should undress and dress in private; the state of undress is up to the client. Some clients remain fully clothed except for their shoes. Others wear a hospital-type gown, leave their underwear on or are nude. A client should always be securely covered or draped with a sheet or towel, which should be tucked in or draped in such a way that it will not easily move.

Client Centered The entire session is about the client and what they need to have in this particular session. How much pressure is used, where the therapist works and doesn’t work, and if you talk or remain quiet is all up to the client. It’s not about the therapist’s needs.

  1. Power Differential There is a power differential between practitioner and client.
  2. The power differential is inherent in any therapeutic relationship.
  3. There is an implicit acknowledgment that the practitioner has more knowledge in this area than the client.
  4. The power differential exists for the purpose of bringing benefit to the more vulnerable individual.
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In healthcare, the power differential is amplified by the physical aspects of practice. The client is usually lying down and unclothed, which has the psychological effect of increasing the imbalance of power. Maintaining professional boundaries is the responsibility of the practitioner, even if the client requests or instructs the practitioner to behave otherwise.

The practitioner also has a duty to stay aware of how the power differential may affect the client’s ability to raise concerns. Appropriate and Not A massage therapist should never touch the genital area of the client. This is either sexual abuse or prostitution. In most parts of the U.S., massage of the breast is off limits.

In the few states where it is legal, there must be written consent by the client. In other countries (for example, in certain provinces of Canada), where the training is much more extensive, breast massage is part of massage therapy training and is permitted where appropriate.

  1. There are cases where breast massage may be indicated.
  2. For example, if a nursing mother has a blocked milk duct, breast massage is sometimes indicated.
  3. Or if there is a painful post-surgical scar, certain types of massage therapy may be helpful.
  4. However, it is never appropriate to perform massage on or touch a woman’s nipples.

The area of the upper inner thigh, either in front or back, is an area that is rarely touched. More specifically, the therapist never works within two to three inches of the genital at the inner thigh. It can evoke sexual stimulation, fear or both. It is a private area that is left to intimate partners.

  • The only exception to this guideline is when there is an injury to the muscles or tendons in this area.
  • In this case, the client has come to the therapist to work on this issue and has explicitly agreed to be treated in this area.
  • When this is done respectfully and with draping, it is not a problem.
  • The therapist carefully and securely drapes the client’s upper inner thigh with a sheet or towel before working.

The buttock area is generally included in a massage therapy session but doesn’t have to be if this is not an area you want worked on. Work on or very close to the anus or motions that clearly open the cheeks of the buttock should never happen. Reporting an incident: If the client feels their boundaries have been crossed or violated, they should say something immediately.

Some people freeze physically, emotionally and verbally when they have experienced posttraumatic stress disorder at some time in their life and this could be a problem. Inappropriate actions by therapists can be reported to the police, the Massage Therapy Board of Registration and/or the District Attorney’s office.

These types of actions cannot be tolerated and do great harm to those in our profession who do an admirable job in helping people live more pain free lives. Make sure your clients are educated as to appropriate behavor for them and for you, so there is no miscommunication or misunderstandings and your practice can continue to thrive.

When is the best time to get a massage?

Availability – Besides being aware of your lifestyle requirements for a massage, you also need to know about your availability. It’s ideal to schedule your massage when you’re less busy, making your free moments the best time to get a massage. Some go for a massage in the morning, during their lunch break, after work, or on a day off.

  1. Some people love to go for a massage right after work around 4 PM, so their bodies have enough time to digest their food.
  2. Just make sure you schedule an appointment to avoid long wait times.
  3. That way, you have more than enough time to get a massage and get back home to have dinner with your family.
  4. Regardless, every massage studio is different with its hours of operations, how they set up appointments and their busy hours.

A good rule to follow is to reach out and see what they recommend to you. Availability isn’t necessarily only when you’re free, but the ideal time for your massage therapist too.

What are the disadvantages of back massage?

1. Side effects – Side effects associated with massage therapy are rare. However, they can include nausea, headaches, soreness in the muscles being massaged, bruising or bleeding in some cases, fatigue, dizziness, mental/emotional discomfort (anxiety), fainting, and skin irritation.

How long should a back massage last?

How long should a massage be? How long should a massage be? Typically massage therapy should be at least 50 minutes to one hour for a general full body treatment to be effective. Some establishments offer forty-five and fifty minute sessions. A good therapist can get what needs to be addressed treated, but in my opinion, even the best of therapists need a minimum of eighty minutes to perform a proper full body massage.

  • Eep in mind that on your first visit will need to fill out paperwork and go threw an assessment, which will take time out of your actual hands on part of the session.
  • Even when you don’t have to do an assessment and there is just a few follow up questions, this still takes up time out of the session.
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This is why it is also a good idea to try and see the same therapist for most of your treatments, this way your therapist knows you and your condition and can keep the follow up and assessment to a minimum so you can get more actual treatment. There has been some ongoing misunderstanding about timing with massage therapy sessions.

Some people think that you should be getting one full hour of hands on massage only and there is no need for evaluation or assessment. This is actually very dangerous and if you get a therapist who doesn’t spend any time at all with an assessment you should consider this a red flag. How would your therapist know what to treat or focus on if there was no assessment? Even for a relaxation massage, you still need to be informed about what will happen throughout the treatment.

Pre and post assessment are a part of massage therapy and are a necessary part of your treatment to be effective. Feel Great, Look Great with Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa Massage. Facials. Waxing. At Hand & Stone our Registered Massage Therapists will relieve tension, soothe tired muscles and ease headaches.

Interested in our facial services? We know radiant, healthy skin reflects how you look and feel. Hand & Stone’s facials are performed by certified Estheticians and we are proud to offer Dermalogica®, YonKa and Diego Dalla Palma products so you can enjoy a bright, beautiful complexion in between regular appointments.

We’ll help you look and feel your best, affordably! Call today to schedule your appointment! We’re open 7 days a week with extended hours and gift cards are available for all occasions. Written by: Domenic Jason Falvo, RMT Hand & Stone Barrie Domenic has been practicing massage therapy for over 18 years in all types of clinic and spa environments.

  1. Having done so he has acquired and abundance of therapeutic skill sets incorporating deep tissue massage, shiatsu, acupressure, advanced joint mobilizations, remedial exercise and hydrotherapy into the ideally seasoned massage therapy experience.
  2. Domenic also has training in clinical acupuncture, progressive facial manipulation and reflexology that is also fused into his treatment.

Domenic prefers to focus on the cause of underlying issues rather than treating the symptoms alone, which is proven more effective in the long run for client health. Although treating all types of acute and chronic injuries is Domenic’s main focus, he is seamlessly able to perform general relaxation massage with ease.

Is it OK to have a full body massage?

6. A Healthy Heart – A full-body massage is good for your heart as well. The vasodilation produced by massage increases your venous return which, in turn, increases blood flow and delivery of oxygen to all your organs. Your entire cardiovascular system relaxes and circulation throughout your body improves.

How often should I get a massage for back pain?

Long-Term Injuries – If you’ve had an injury or illness, it’s important to keep up with regular massages. This can help speed up your recovery and reduce your pain. If you are using massage to help relieve pain after an injury, it’s best to book a session once or twice per week, tapering to once a week as your condition improves.

What are the disadvantages of back massage?

1. Side effects – Side effects associated with massage therapy are rare. However, they can include nausea, headaches, soreness in the muscles being massaged, bruising or bleeding in some cases, fatigue, dizziness, mental/emotional discomfort (anxiety), fainting, and skin irritation.

Is it good to have a painful massage?

What to Expect After a Deep Tissue Massage – Since a deep tissue massage requires firm pressure, after your deep tissue massage you may notice:

Sore or aching muscles This may feel like you just had a good workout. The soreness should go away after 24-36 hours. Some people find that drinking a little extra water may help with the soreness. Pain Pain may occur because your muscles are not used to the deep treatment. This should subside. However if it does not, you should contact your massage therapist immediately and ice your back or the point of soreness. After a deep tissue massage, you may experience a slight headache, which is fairly common and also subsides with time. Sleepiness After the massage, it is common to feel tired or fatigued. This may occur due to the fact your muscles are (finally) relaxing and/or your stress has been relieved. This effect shouldn’t last too long after your treatment and it is fine to sleep after a massage. In some cases, people even fall asleep during a massage!

Remember, you want your deep tissue massage to be beneficial to your body not harmful. If you are highly uncomfortable during your massage, make sure to let your Tampa massage therapist know. Ready to get a deep tissue massage? with the licensed massage therapists at Tampa Bay Sports & Medical Massage today! At our South Tampa massage center, we fix broken people.