Massage therapy for back pain and injury

At a Glance

• The muscular manipulation in massage therapy physically releases noxious chemicals built up during muscle spasm that cause pain and swelling.
• The release of these chemicals into the blood stream allows normal circulation and function to return, decreasing pain and swelling.
• Hands-on therapy can be pleasing and therapeutic while making people feel nurtured and cared for.
• Massage therapy treats Sprains and Strains, Spondylolisthesis and Spinal Stenosis.

Massage, or massotherapy, can feel good for several reasons:

• It helps to identify sore or injured muscles or muscle groups needing attention.
• It breaks spasms in a muscle by passively stretching it.
• The manual compression and stretching of massage helps to release waste byproducts of muscle metabolism such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

In response to a bone or ligament stress or injury, surrounding muscles may tighten as a protective measure. A muscle that tightens for a prolonged period can eventually go into a chronic spasm.

As a muscle goes into spasm, blood flow is restricted due to increased pressure. Certain chemicals, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid, build up and cause further pain. The restriction is called vaso-constriction, meaning a tightening of blood vessels. Vaso-constriction then often worsens existing pain and swelling, creating a downward spiral.

Massage helps to break spasms and to release accumulated carbon dioxide through the lungs and lactic acid through the kidneys. This release allows normal circulation and function to return. For this reason, drinking lots of water after a massage facilitates the release and excretion.

Variations of massage therapy include reflexology, acupressure, therapeutic touch, deep tissue, and hot stone massage to name a few.

Frequently Asked Questions

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