How can massage alleviate back pain?
It is estimated that eight out of ten people will suffer from back problems at least once in their lives.
Our fast-paced lives put a strain on our back: stress, bad posture, a sedentary lifestyle, a rich diet, etc. are all factors that cause our back and its muscles to suffer.
Whether it appears suddenly or worsens over time, back pain is particularly painful and debilitating.
What if massage could provide a short but also medium term solution?
Back pain: types and origins!
Types of back pain
There are almost as many types of back pain as there are causes. It can be chronic or acute and cause only simple discomfort or pain that prevents you from bending over or even standing up.
It can appear in the lower or middle back but also in the shoulders or lower neck. But in 58% of cases, back pain is referred to as “lumbago” and so affects the lumbar region, in the lower back.
This is explained by the fact that the lumbar region is the most mobile and is therefore the most stressed part of the spine. It is also important to note that it supports no less than ⅔ of our weight! This therefore explains its importance but also its fragility!
Factors that promote back pain
The following are notable sources of back pain:
- Various trauma: impact, fractures, twists, etc.
- Continuous repetition of identical movements
- Bad posture
- Stress-related tension
- A sedentary lifestyle
- A (too) rich diet
- ….
Is it possible to prevent it?
It is mostly good daily habits that help prevent back pain.
– Do regular physical activity. Walking and swimming are particularly effective
- Do regular physical activity. Walking and swimming have notable positive effects on the flexibility and resistance of the back.
- Avoid foods that increase the acidity of your body (foods rich in sugars, fats, dairy products, salt, etc.) and opt for foods that alkalise your body and therefore eliminate acids (fruits and vegetables, nuts, water, “good” fats, etc.).
- Adopt good posture when sitting for long hours: have your back straight and your shoulders back.
- Get into the habit of bending your knees when you want to lift a load rather than bending over.
- Avoid wearing heels for hours at a time.
- Opt for a backpack rather than a shoulder bag
- …
And where does massage come in all this?
Back massage has both preventive and curative properties for back pain but also has other benefits.
The physical benefits
The combination of movements and pressure applied helps to increase blood flow, which allows better oxygenation of the back.
The movements and pressure will also stimulate lymphatic flow. Lymph is a white substance that carries toxins out of the body. It does not flow naturally, so it must be stimulated to eliminate as many toxins as possible. Massage will thus oxygenate and drain the muscle tissues in order to rid them of the toxins that have accumulated there.
The psychological benefits
In addition to these physical benefits, back massage has great psychological benefits!
It offers a moment of escape, of wellbeing, away from time and concerns and helps alleviate stress, frustrations, worries, etc.
- It increases the secretion of oxytocin, a hormone that contributes to muscle relaxation and lowering blood pressure.
- It increases the production of dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and oxytocin, the four pleasure/happiness hormones which are secreted during a massage.
- Il helps reduce the production of cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress.
A study conducted in the United States* in 2011 demonstrated that therapeutic massage would be more effective than medication or exercise in relieving chronic back pain.
The study revealed that between 62% to 65% of participants who received massages saw their physical condition improve compared to the 38% who received treatment including medication for pain and inflammation, physical exercise and pain prevention advice. In addition, people who had received massages claimed to be more active, less prone to pain and to have reduced the use of medications.
Prevention:
Before starting a massage, it is important to have a conversation with your client and ask them about any particular pain or pathologies. This will let you know if any special precautions need to be taken during the massage.
Indeed, the anatomy of the back is complex. It includes: the spine, its vertebrae and intervertebral discs, ligaments, deep and superficial muscles, etc. For the massage and its benefits to be optimal, it is important to have comprehensive knowledge of the complete structure of the back.
What should you bear in mind?
In view of the growing increase in back pain and problems, the search for solutions and remedies is also growing. More and more people are seeking relief from back pain from different practitioners.
As part of the wellbeing and personal care professions, mastering back massage can only be beneficial for your clients and patients but also for yourself, in creating a more comprehensive and appealing service offering.
Wellbeing and healthcare centres are always full. Adding a massage service as popular as back massage can only attract new customers/patients, as well as retain existing ones.
At e-massage.com, our training courses have been designed and devised to allow you to master a comprehensive back massage plan: from welcome to goodbye.
The cherry on the cake: at the end of the training, you will have the option to obtain certification as a professional massage therapist, recognised by the World Massage Federation.
Interested, or simply curious? You will find all the information about our back massage training here:
👉 https://www.e-massage.com/formation/formation-massage-dos/