Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
Lower back pain is a nuisance. You feel sore, stiff, aching, and consequently annoyed by, well, pretty much everything. Lower back pain can be anything from an occasional ache to a chronic condition that affects your daily life.
The good news is, you nowadays can find relief for your problem. After all, massage therapy can offer real help when it comes to the lower back pain issues.
The good news it is that you can get benefits from either professional massage therapist or even home massage equipment in your living room, such as massage chairs, some of the models can be found at Health Nerdy as an example!
Whether it’s from the hands of a massage therapist or the comfort of your home, massage can greatly benefit your chronic pain issues as well as have a profound effect on your general well-being!
What kind of massage should you choose?
While you probably want to consult with the professional massage therapist about your problems, the following types of massage are most familiar to treat low back pain:
- Thai massage (pulls and stretches the problematic area)
- Swedish massage (relaxes the muscles)
- Myotherapy release (aims at specific pain points)
- Shiatsu massage (improves blood and lymph circulation)
Benefits of massage for lower back pain
Did you know that low back pain is one of the most common reasons why the Americans regularly visit their doctors? It’s also quite difficult to treat it with the therapeutic tools provided.
While there are conventional medicinal practices that supposedly help to relieve the chronic pain, these are neither always pleasant nor successful.
Luckily for us, there are alternatives to injections, surgeries, and medications that can soothe chronic low back pain without any side effects of concerns. Massage therapy can be extremely beneficial for the lower back pain because:
Improves blood circulation
A massage can improve blood flow and circulation, which is very helpful for the muscles and tissue. Why? Because it brings nutrients to these areas which boosts the healing process of the damaged area and provides recovery of sore muscles and injured soft tissue.
The most exciting thing about it as that it doesn’t matter whether you’re physically very active or not. Massage therapy should be beneficial for all kinds of physical activity levels, according to Science News:
“Massage therapy improves general blood flow and alleviates muscle soreness after exercise, according to a study. The results also showed that massage improved vascular function in people who had not exercised, suggesting that massage has benefits for people regardless of their level of physical activity.”
Relieves the tension in the muscles
Who wants tense muscles anyway? Everything hurts, you can’t relax, and painful areas of your body limit your movements. Massage therapy releases and lowers the tension in the muscles. Not only does this improve your flexibility, but it also reduces pain, and provides relaxation!
What’s more, this study proves that a 10-minute massage can reduce inflammation (in chronic conditions), soothe muscle tension, and pain.
Boosts endorphins
A regular massage can increase endorphins in your body. These are also known as pain-killing hormones, and they boost dopamine and serotonin levels in the body. By releasing endorphins, a massage can help you reduce anxiety and depression. This can also influence pain levels and the recovery process of the muscles and the tissue.
Overall, these hormones work on physical and emotional levels; they help to manage pain, calm your stressed mind, and promote healing. What’s more, endorphins also boost the immune system, reduce stress, and relieve pain. Candace Pert claims:
“From my research with endorphins, I know the power of touch to stimulate and regulate our natural chemicals, the ones that are tailored to act at precisely the right times in exactly the appropriate dosages to maximize our feelings of health and well-being.
Prevents other ailments (insomnia and posture)
Long-term, a massage can help to avoid other problems that are caused by the chronic lower back pain.
First of all, it can improve posture. After all, poor posture can be one of the primary reasons form chronic back pain. With a proper massage, the body will loosen and position itself in its pain-free and natural position.
Secondly, a massage can also improve the quality of your sleep, according to this study which concluded that the massage therapy group reported less pain, depression, improved sleep, and lower levels of anxiety.
Improves overall well-being
Massage therapy can be a very efficient approach to a holistic lifestyle. A regular low back massage can significantly improve your overall well-being especially if you suffer from chronic lower back pain. Through the healing process, relaxation, and increased circulation, the quality of your physical and emotional health can improve greatly.
Alternatives to human hands
We understand. You don’t always have the time for the trip to the massage therapist (We hope that you do).
Busy working days, school, chores, and many other factors can influence your life’s priorities. You may lack a good therapist in your area and to get to one takes too much of your precious time.
Luckily for you, there are a few alternatives to human hands.
You can invest in a good massage chair and enjoy the relaxing massage from the comfort of your own home. Finding a good massage chair that provides soothing relief for back pain, can be greatly beneficial.
Additionally, if expensive home massage equipment is not what you’re after, you can also try a massage such as massage pillows and cushions, hand-held massagers, percussive massagers, foam rollers, and more.
I have to go for regular massages. I get back pain from spending so much time sitting at a desk during the day!