Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

We all could use a day at the spa for a little rest and relaxation. Whether you want to get a massage, soak in the hot tub or sit in the sauna, many people turn to a spa to help their body recharge a bit. And while the spa can be a nice way to pamper yourself from time to time, is it actually a place you should turn to if you are hoping to overcome new or persistent back pain? Below, we explain if a spa day is a good way to treat new or lingering back pain.

Treating Back Pain At The Spa

Your back and your whole body may feel better after you leave the spa, but should you book a session if you’re dealing with back pain? When it comes to caring for our spine, a fair amount of people hope to get the best results by throwing themselves into very passive forms of treatment. That includes a heavy dose of rest, activity avoidance, medications and at times, spa-related treatments like hot soaks, massages or sauna sessions. While it would be nice if these relaxing and enjoyable treatments proved to be effective for your back issues, the fact of the matter is it’s rare to expect spa care to have any meaningful impact on your back.

Now, if you’re dealing with very minor issues, like general soreness or mild muscle cramping or tightness, it’s certainly possible that a relaxing soak in the hot tub or a targeted massage could help to relax these tense soft tissues, but for more serious issues, spa care isn’t going to be effective in the long term. Sitting in a hot tub isn’t going to reverse decades of disc degeneration, and a massage isn’t going to calm the effects of spinal stenosis. For the vast majority of cases, spa remedies aren’t going to do much. They may alleviate some mild symptoms in the short term, but they aren’t going to address the underlying problem at the heart of your back pain.

That said, heading to the spa can certainly be a part of a more comprehensive and proactive care program. A hot soak or a gentle massage could help your body recover from the aftermath of worthwhile physical therapy sessions or following aquatic therapy exercise in the pool. Treatments that focus on strength and flexibility improvements typically yield better results in both the short and long term, so expect your spine specialist to recommend exercise, physical therapy, weight management and controlled stretching during your consultation instead of just recommending that you head to the spa once a week.

A day at the spa could make your spine feel better, but know that it’s surface level improvement. If you want to make long term gains and reduce the likelihood that your spine symptoms will return in the future, you’re going to have to put in the work with exercise or physical therapy instead of laying back and getting pampered. It’s probably not the advice that you hoped to hear, but trust us when we say it will be effective. We tell all our patients that they’ll get out what they put in when it comes to treatment, and if you’re willing to work, we expect you’ll be pleased with the results.

Contact a Minnesota Back Pain Specialist

You can pamper yourself at the spa after going to physical therapy for a few weeks, but don’t assume that spa care alone will rid you of your back pain. For more information about effective treatment options for spinal issues, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

Comments are closed.