A Natural Way to Heal Back Pain Using Massage

Last updated on December 14th, 2018.

You ask, Can massage help my back problems? Almost certainly, yes. Because massage is low risk and non-invasive, it can be carried out visiting a chiropractor, massage therapist, or physical therapist, or by using hands-on massagers.

Massage is gentle and ever so relaxing. When you are relaxed and calm feeling no stress, your brain will naturally produce endorphins that will be released to travel through your blood stream. Endorphins bind to opiate receptors in the brain and produce pain relief. It’s like having your own built-in pharmacy, thanks to the source who created us.

1. Contents

   • Massage Benefits for You
   • Back Pain and the Spine
   • Pain Solutions
   • Natural Pain Reduction
   • Massager Types

   Massage Benefits for You

In today’s world, massage therapy is a trend that’s been around for many years. The medical professionals, including massage therapists, are fully aware of the benefits that people can realize with simple massage therapy for back pain. Some of the benefits that are known are shown below:

• Increased blood flow for better circulation, increased lymph sent into the blood from cells by a duct resembling blood plasma containing white blood cells used in fighting infections, but few red blood cells and no platelets. What a combination. With increased circulation, muscles and soft tissue are fed the nutrients from the food you have eaten. This will help you recover from muscle aches, soreness, and tightness, from the top of your head to your toes. Be sure to drink lots of water after a massage to remove toxins to be eliminated in your urine.

• Lessening that hunched up tension in shoulder and neck muscles and other body areas. With tension gone, flexibility will increase, easing pain, and even improve your sleep.

• The release of endorphins does away with anxiety and depression. For people having a great deal of lower back pain continually, neck issues, and generalized muscle pain with soft tissue pain, good feelings will return with massage.

2. Back Pain and the Spine

Back pain is customary it seems in today’s busy world and the types of jobs people do, mainly sitting and standing for 8 to 10 hours. The reasons for this overwhelming pain is due to bad posture weakening muscles, being out of shape, inactivity with physical activities, osteoporosis, obesity, and other conditions needing medical attention.

Constructed of bone, joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves, it’s easy to see that the spine is a delicate area to deal with.

ƒƒƒLigaments connect bone to bone and tendons connect muscles to bones. Being formed of collagen and elastin fibers that are tightly compacted, these areas take a longer time to heal because the blood supply to them is reduced. In the spine, tendons connect vertebrae to the muscles that support the spine.

Ligaments in the spine give stability to the entire structure joining individual bones. The intrasegmental, meaning between layers, connect one vertebrae to another while the intersegmental system holds many vertebrae together; inter means in-between and we have 24 vertebrae.

With its elegant structure, it is nevertheless easy to irritate, sprain, strain, and rupture the innermost mechanisms to be strong and support your body’s frame.

3. Pain Solutions

Many people dismiss the pain thinking it will go away by taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain pills, to include taking narcotic prescriptions if the OTC meds don’t do the trick. As we know, the pain might go away for a short time, and if it doesn’t more pills are taken, and then addiction to narcotics, another issue to treat. Why go this route when you can have a simple massage, do some exercises, and be functionally well?

Your first choice should be to find the cause of the pain, not medicate yourself into oblivion, to continue the cycle of pain anyway. A natural approach is always best for any condition in the long run. You can use all types of massagers to include TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) stimulation to the skin to relieve pain by interfering with the pain receptors in the brain, and/or EMS (Electronic Muscle Stimulator) units.

4. Natural Pain Reduction

Yoga poses are extremely favorable for strengthening your spine and all of you. Despite what you might think, Yoga reduces lower back pain, enlightens you, and increases serotonin levels. It’s hard to make changes in a habitual and routine way of life, but yes you can.

With back pain, inactivity and rest are not the cure for it. You must take action for your own health to get up and moving about pain free. Massage is the first best choice. Settle into a massage chair, get yourself a foam roller and use it to relieve back pain, not forgetting a comfortable bed pillow for the best support when you sleep.

5. Massager Types

There are many different types of massagers everywhere with different features for specific areas of pain.

• Compression
• Percussion
• Heated
• Pounding
• Vibrating
• Kneading/Rolling/ Squeezing
• Acupressure

Using handheld massagers and seat cushions, you can use the programs or set your own for the sore areas of your body, including your lower back. Many massagers have long handles for you to use, and others are relaxing when another person massages you. Most massagers offer flexible heads to contour to the shape of your body.

Massagers are soothing and calming for you to relax and be well. You will feel more tranquil and able to calm any irritation in your body. Lower back pain does not need to zap the life out of you.