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Are you suffering from lower back pain?

You are not alone. A whopping 70% to 80% of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lives. In some cases, the pain can become worse overtime until it restricts the overall movement of the body. The problem could be related to injuries such as sports accidents, workplace injuries, or car accidents. However in most cases, Low Back Pain (LBP) is referred to as non-specific low back pain, which means there is absence of a specific pathology that can be linked to the pain perception.

Lower back pain can be contributed to by stress, biomechanical impairment, or sitting in front of a computer all day. The pain would even prevent you from doing day to day tasks. Majority of the people use pain pills to relieve their back pain. Higher doses of these medications may come with some side effects such as gastrointestinal problems, ulcers, and kidney stones.

Massage therapy can play an important role in the overall management of lower back pain. In can be effective to pain as an effective adjunct an active rehabilitation program. Receiving massages on a regular basis is recommended to keep yourself balanced and healthy.

Massage is said to be a safe therapeutic modality without any side effects or significant risks. When low back pain becomes persistent, there may be the presence of various trigger point (Lesions / contracture knots) which may lead to sensitisation of muscles and connective tissue. This increase tissue sensitisation can to changes in psychological and emotional factors including – fear of movement, stress, anxiety and a loss of sleep.

Some factors that can contribute to back pain are,
• Osteoarthritis
• Disc degeneration
• Spinal stenosis
• Postural issues
• Muscle and ligament injuries
• Sciatica
• Herniated disk
• Spondylolisthesis

At the early stage of the treatment, massage therapists will perform a manual assessment of the soft tissues to understand the depth of injury. Based on patient-specific assessment findings and patient tolerance, they may use a combination of various techniques to relieve back pain. Lower back massage also helps in reducing sensitisation and modulating pain by reducing muscle tension and tightness. Check out the massage modalities that are used by the student massage therapists to treat back pain here at the Australasian College of Massage and Myotherapy.

Deep Tissue Massage

The method can produce more intense feelings due to the higher pressure applied on the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It aims in improving circulation, ease inflammation, increase range of motion, and reduce aches. The technique is also utilized to improve postural strength and endurance.

Myofascial Release

This treatment technique focuses on the fascial layer, which lies between the visible skin layer and muscles. The method involves the use of slow and sustained pressure to open up fascia. It focuses on reducing the pain by easing the tension around specific trigger points.

Trigger Point Therapy

It focuses on releasing trigger points which are spots that produce pain when compressed. When trigger points build upon the muscles, we would experience physical limitations, pain, and loss of normal function.

Dry needling

This technique is effective for the treatment of pain and movement impairments. It involves the usage of a dry needle which is inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle to speed up the patient’s recovery process.

Sports massage

The method utilizes a variety of approaches to help athletes enhance flexibility, recover faster from the competition, and prevent injuries from occurring. This technique mainly targets specific areas of the body depending upon the sports athletes are indulged in. A sports massage therapist is required to have a wider set of skills and supporting knowledge.

You can find courses to study the above massage techniques if you find them interesting. Australasian College of Massage and Myotherapy provides certification courses such as the Diploma of Remedial Massage and the Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy. The college offers hands-on massage techniques under the guidance of expert trainers to become a qualified massage therapist. Passionate students can register themselves for the courses by filling out the application form.

From Deep Tissue and Sports Massage to Swedish and Myotherapy….

From Qualification Opportunities to Perks of the Job….

And Finally, what your life as a Massage Therapist will look like, this EBook is a must read for massage hopefuls.