Beneficial Results of Back Pain Massage

Massage and Spinal Manipulation relieved pain

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that massage, as well as chiropractic work, offered equally beneficial results for low back pain as physical therapy and pain medication. By reviewing the results from three separate studies, researchers were also able to conclude that massage and spinal manipulation relieved pain better than acupuncture, other non-drug relaxation techniques, and a fake laser procedure.

One interpretation of the findings by osteopath James N. Weinstein in Health News suggests that people tend to prefer massage and spinal manipulation to more traditional methods of addressing back pain because of the hands-on time massage practitioners and chiropractors have with their clientele.
If you choose to follow these alternative health paths for low back pain, remember that massage may be contraindicated if you have osteoporosis or a ruptured disc.

Massage therapy could be a great alternative treatment for back pain

For those who want to go the alternative route to treat their back pain, massage may be the best bet. A new study demonstrates that it is superior to both acupuncture and self-care for this frustrating and debilitating condition. Experts agree that often the best way to manage chronic back pain is to use several therapies at once, and therapeutic massage may be an important part of the package.

“This provides some scientific evidence that massage may be useful for people with chronic back pain,” investigator Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD, tells WebMD. “Therefore, it’s certainly something that one with chronic back pain should consider trying.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, 70-85% of people experience back pain at some time in their lives, and it is the most frequent cause of limited activity in people under the age of 45.

Many different types of massages

There are many types of massage to choose from, such as Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and shiatsu. There have been some promising studies on the use of massage to relieve back pain symptoms, but so far, one type of massage hasn’t been shown to be more effective for back pain than another.  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.

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.

Massage can be an effective way to ease the pain of both short-term acute back pain and more severe chronic back pain. Back pain from excessive exercise or a muscle strain may even be cured by a skillful massage. For most people, however, massage provides a lessening of their symptoms rather than a complete and permanent cessation of pain.

Part of this article was originally published in Body Sense magazine, Spring/Summer 2004.
Copyright 2004. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.