Who doesn't enjoy a nice back massage? If you have back pain and want relief, massage therapy might be the answer. Activities like sitting at a desk or carrying heavy things can strain your back muscles and cause pain. Many people suffer from back pain, but massage can help.
Back massage is an important part of relaxation and therapeutic massage. Some people even prefer to have their back massaged more than other parts of their body. A back massage can loosen tight muscles that cause pain and discomfort. A good upper back massage can make a big difference in how you feel and move. It can also reduce pain in your upper body.
The back muscles are often home to trigger points, which are small irritable spots within the muscles. Trigger points can cause pain in other parts of your body. For example, an active trigger point between your shoulder blades can cause pain in your neck near the base of your skull. An active trigger point in the middle of your back can cause hip pain. Trigger points in the back can even be responsible for pain from your head to your hips and buttocks, and down your arms to your hands.
That's why massage therapy is so helpful for upper body pain. It can treat many muscle problems in the back that cause pain in your upper body.
Anatomy
Your back has layers of muscles that allow you to move in different directions.
Here are the major back muscles in the first four layers:
- The latissimus dorsi and trapezius are broad, flat muscles located on top.
- Underneath them are the rhomboids, which connect your shoulder blades to your spine. This layer also includes the infraspinatus and teres major, which help with shoulder movement.
- In the third layer, you have the levator scapulae, which runs from the top inside of your shoulder blade to your neck. The serratus posterior muscles go across between your shoulder blades.
- Finally, deep in your back, next to your spine, are the erector spinae muscles. These thick muscles go from your pelvis all the way up to the base of your skull.
It's easy to see why you can have many problems if a muscle is strained or overworked. It can be quite painful.
Unless you're lying flat on your back, you're constantly using your back muscles to maintain your posture. These muscles don't get a chance to relax and recover. Back pain can linger, and it can take a long time for back muscle injuries to heal.
Back Massage for Relaxation
A good back massage is a great way to relax. The large area of your back allows the massage therapist to use long, flowing strokes that help you relax. Most people are comfortable with having their back touched and can fully relax during the massage. Some people I work with fall asleep while I massage their back. If you're stressed and need to relax, a back massage can make you feel better.
Massage Therapy for Back Pain
Massage therapy can also help with back pain. An upper back massage focuses on the muscles from the bottom of your shoulder blades to the base of your skull.
It's difficult to give yourself a back massage for pain relief because you have to use your back muscles to maintain your position. But when you lie face down on the massage table, you can completely relax and let the massage therapist do the work.
After warming up the muscles, the therapist might use deep tissue massage techniques like cross-fiber friction to target specific parts of a muscle. They can identify trigger points and areas of tightness to relieve pain. Applying pressure along the edge of your shoulder blades can effectively release tight muscles.
For the best results, it's important to actively communicate with the massage therapist and let them know about your problem areas. Sometimes, when the therapist presses on a trigger point or tender spot, you might feel pain in that spot or somewhere else. You might also feel a tight spot in your muscle that doesn't cause pain to the therapist. Your feelings are what matters, so be sure to tell the therapist if you feel more pain or if you experience referred pain in another area. Communicating with the therapist helps make the massage more effective and ensures you get the best results.
If you're dealing with back or shoulder pain, massage therapy might be able to help you find relief. Schedule an appointment today.
