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90% of back pain is in the soft tissues!
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT BACK PAIN?
A regular Swedish Massage will
relax, increase awareness and reduce stress – wonderful and excellent
prevention:
 | warm up before you start any activity |
| check your posture – relax! Don’t hunch your shoulders or slouch |
| work at the right height – BREATHE – it’s easy to forget! |
| take frequent breaks – a quick stretch and shake |
| change activity or at least position when you can – even a few minutes
will make a difference |
| don’t bend too far – it’s best to squat or kneel to reach low things |
| lift carefully – bend from the hips and knees. Hold heavy items close to
you |
| reduce weight – if you have pounds to lose |
| learn how to look after your back with stretching and general exercise. |
If
you feel pain in you back – even if it doesn’t seem too bad –
get
it treated as soon as possible
BACK PAIN AND REMEDIAL & SPORTS MASSAGE
| to reduce pain and encourage relaxation so that you operate at a lower level
of excitement |
| to relieve tension in back muscles that are then likely to distort structure
with far reaching effects on health |
| to balance muscles that are causing problems and to detect and remove
trigger points that may be preventing the body from healing itself |
| to improve overall body functioning especially circulation to chronically
inflamed areas thus speeding up repair |
| to cause a release of the body’s own painkillers. |
BACK PAIN & ADVANCED REMEDIAL MASSAGE
Therapists use muscle energy
techniques and specific release techniques to restore structure.
BACK PAIN & MANIPULATIVE THERAPY
Manipulative Therapists use palpatory
techniques to discover what is causing an imbalance leading to back pain. They
use a variety of techniques, some may cause clicking sounds others are more like
stretching and specially applied movements. The Therapist will check your whole
structure looking for the cause of the problem. The Therapist will also use some
Advanced Remedial Massage Techniques. By improving the back many other
conditions often disappear or reduce. The pain of osteoporosis or arthritis may
well be eased as muscle spasm is reduced. Anyone who has experienced angina
knows that muscle spasm is very painful!!
BACK PAIN & AROMATHERAPY
| to balance relax and re-energise with oils such as chamomile and geranium |
| reduce muscle spasm with anti-spasmodic oils like ginger |
| to reduce tension with calming oils such as sandalwood |
| to reduce inflammation with anti-inflammatory oils such as lavender |
| to improve circulation to all joints with warming oils such as rosemary |
| to reduce pain with oils such as lemon, eucalyptus – natural painkillers |
| to help in repair with oils such as mandarin. |
BACK PAIN & REFLEXOLOGY
| to balance, relax and re-energise, |
| to work the spine reflexes to reduce muscle spasm, |
| to reduce tension in the pelvic girdle, |
| to improve circulation to all joints especially arthritic ones, |
| to improve nutrition bringing the body’s healing agents to damaged areas, |
| to improved elimination in inflamed areas and generally, |
| to reduce pain – certain points on the feet are specific to sciatica. |
Research: Back Pain
Massage Therapy reduced anxiety, lowered back pain and sleep
disturbance. It also improved mood.
Hernandez-Reif, Field, Diter, Swerdlow & Diego 1998
For more information on therapists in your
area see the Scottish Massage Therapists’ Organisation Directory of
Therapists.
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