Kimberly is a licensed physical therapist assistant with 21 years of experience in the field. She is also a freelance writer and enjoys kickboxing, rowing and playing with her two boxers, Letty and Finn. When it comes to relieving lower back pain, massage therapy is an excellent option. The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centers (PARC) in Ontario employ highly trained and licensed massage therapists who can address and treat painful back conditions.
You can also ask a friend or family member to give you a massage, or try to give yourself a massage with a tennis ball or foam roller. Massages can reduce fatigue, improve sleep quality and enhance overall wellbeing. While bed rest and applying heat or ice may help improve symptoms, massage for back pain offers a better solution that helps relax tired and sore muscles. Deep tissue massage is one of the most effective methods for relieving lower back pain as it requires the professional to apply a greater amount of force compared to other techniques such as Swedish massage.
Trigger point massage is also beneficial as it focuses on fascial trigger points to help relieve muscle pain throughout the body, including the back. Massage can help with both types of back pain, but it may offer more relief for people with acute back pain. The short-term benefits of massage for chronic back pain include reducing sedentary time in bed, improving the ability to perform daily activities, and using fewer medications to treat back pain. After a year, people who received massages, as well as other care, experienced the same level of symptoms as people who didn't receive massages.
When undergoing massage therapy for lower back pain, it is important to ask your therapist to focus on the quadratus lumbar and gluteus medius muscles. You can try self-massage to ease back pain, or find a friend, family member, or professional to soothe your soft tissues. Health professionals recognize that massage for back pain is a safe and natural relief for low back pain and an effective aid for various pain treatments.
