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