What Types of Back Pain can Massages Treat?
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Wouldn’t it be nice if your health condition could be treated by a nice and relaxing massage? For some patients dealing with spine conditions, back massages can do just that. However, this passive treatment option shouldn’t be the only way you’re attempting to control symptoms. Below, we explain why massages can be beneficial, and how they can be a key part of a total treatment plan.
Will Massages Help My Back Pain?
For starters, massages are only beneficial for certain types of spine pain. If you are dealing with a vertebral fracture, herniated disc or spinal tumor, massages are going to do nothing to quell your discomfort. In fact, they may cause more harm than good. However, if your spine pain can be traced back to spinal inflammation or because of poor blood flow, massage therapy can be an important part of a total treatment plan.
So how does massage help to treat certain spine conditions? Massages can provide three specific benefits:
- Increased Blood Flow – Getting healthy blood flow to an injured or inflamed part of the body is crucial for expediting the recovery process. Studies have shown that massage therapy can help to increase general blood flow, which in turn can reduce soreness. Massage therapy has also been proven to be beneficial at increasing blood flow regardless of the exercise activity level of the recipient.
- Tension Alleviation – Muscle tension is necessary to aid in movement, but if there is too much tension, it can lead to cramps, pain and restricted movement. This is especially common in the lower back. Massages work to relax muscle groups in your back to decrease the buildup of muscle tension.
- Endorphin Release – Finally, massages have psychological benefits as well. Research has shown that the process of a therapeutic massage can trigger the release of endorphins in your brain. Endorphins are chemicals that can affect our mood and our perception of pain. When these endorphins are released, you may notice a reduction in your perception of back pain, as well as an improved overall mood.
As we’ve alluded to above, a massage therapy routine can have an essential role in a back pain care plan, but it shouldn’t be your only treatment method. Massages are a passive treatment technique, and you’ll want to pair it with some more active techniques like exercise, stretching routines and physical therapy.
To see if massage therapy may be an option for your spine issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s clinic today.
