| Registered massage therapists are trained in the | | | | The lower back pain can be severe and last |
| assessment and diagnosis of injuries of the soft | | | | anywhere from several hours to a couple of |
| tissue and joints of the body. They use a blend of | | | | weeks. When back muscles are strained or torn, |
| modern science and ancient philosophies to treat | | | | they can become inflamed.With inflammation, the |
| many conditions. Massage therapy is becoming | | | | back muscles can spasm, thus causing both lower |
| more widely accepted in the medical community | | | | back pain and difficulty in moving. Massage |
| as a credible treatment for many types of back | | | | therapy helps to relieve muscle spasm, improve |
| pain. Studies have shown that massage therapy | | | | body circulation and promote healing injuries. It can |
| can benefit chronic back pain sufferers by | | | | also help prevent injury. The large upper back |
| increasing blood flow and circulation, decreasing | | | | muscles are also prone to irritation, either due to |
| tension in the muscles, reducing pain caused by | | | | weakness or overuse.Spinal arthritis is the |
| tight muscles and even improving sleep. Massage | | | | inflammation of the joints of the spine. It can |
| therapy can provide relief for many common | | | | cause the breakdown of cartilage between the |
| conditions that cause back pain, such as arthritis, | | | | aligning facet joints in the back portion of the |
| fibromyalgia, sports injuries and various other soft | | | | spine. As the facet joints become inflamed they |
| tissue sprains and strains.Massage is non-invasive | | | | create frictional pain as bone rubs on bone. |
| and considered very low risk for most people. In | | | | Massage therapy can help to reduce osteoarthritis |
| addition to physical benefits, massage is usually | | | | pain by improving circulation, reducing stress and |
| relaxing. This can have profound psychologically | | | | muscle tension. However, it is important to seek a |
| benefits, particularly to someone suffering from | | | | professional who is specifically trained in treating |
| chronic back pain. Depression is a symptom of | | | | people with arthritis.It is important to obtain a |
| chronic pain. Massage is thought to release | | | | proper diagnosis on the cause of your back pain |
| endorphins, natural chemicals in the body that | | | | from a medical practitioner before beginning |
| make you feel good and act as pain | | | | massage therapy. This is to ensure you receive |
| suppressors.It is estimated that 75% of | | | | the appropriate treatments and to rule out |
| healthcare providers have sent their patients to | | | | potentially serious conditions.For back pain |
| massage therapists. If appropriate, you may want | | | | sufferers, it is important obtain an accurate |
| to ask your physician for a referral to a massage | | | | medical diagnosis of the cause of back pain. |
| therapy professional in your area.Most episodes of | | | | Massage therapy can effectively treat many |
| acute lower back pain are caused by muscle | | | | types of back pain on its own or when combined |
| strain, such as from lifting a heavy object, or a | | | | with medical treatment. |
| traumatic injury like a sudden movement or a fall. | | | | |