Massage Therapy for Back Pain

Massage Therapy for Back Pain
By Brennan Howe
Massage therapy breaks down scar tissue and releases muscles from spasms.  It is becoming increasingly more recognized as a form of medical treatment; a study by the American Massage Therapy Association found that 54% of healthcare providers encourage massage therapy, along with other types of therapy for back pain.  Studies have shown that massage therapy is more effective than both chiropractic and acupuncture for relieving pain due to muscle spasms.  The benefits of massage therapy include improved circulation, which helps alleviate muscle soreness; muscle relaxation, which helps muscles move without pain; and increased endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers.  If muscle spasms do not relax with massage therapy, that means inflammation is likely present and cannot be treated with massage.  So if you know your back pain is due to inflammation, it won’t help to seek out massage therapy.
 
 You should be aware that the kind of massage you receive in a spa is not the same kind of massage used to treat back pain.  Swedish massage is the most common type of massage found in spas and similar places that offer massages, and while it feels good, it is too superficial to reach deep tissue and muscles and have any lasting affect on back pain.
 
 The kind of massage used to treat is called Neuromuscular therapy (NMT), or trigger point myotherapy.  This type of massage works to relieve pain by balancing the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.  NMT incorporates special massage therapy techniques, myofacial release, and stretching to relive both acute and chronic patterns