What is Back Massage?

Back Massage

Back massage seeks to obtain a therapeutic benefit for your back muscles. While therapeutic back massage is often relaxing, the end goal of the session or series of appointments is not relaxation but the relief of your back pain and muscular tension.

Therapeutic back massage goals can vary considerably between massage therapists and clients. Sometimes, a back massage recommended by a health professional is part of a larger treatment plan. For example, someone attending physiotherapy for a back injury might have a regular back massage to loosen muscles, improve muscle tone, and increase flexibility.

People can use back massage as a standalone treatment. Some people, such as athletes, labourers or stressed-out office workers, receive regular therapeutic back massages to keep themselves in good physical condition.

People of all ages can benefit from therapeutic back massages by a competent and fully qualified remedial massage therapist. Back massage is also suitable for people with disabilities, expecting mothers, and people in treatment for medical conditions. However, special precautions may be needed to protect the client’s health.

Basic therapeutic back massage techniques originate from a variety of massage styles. Your massage therapist will tailor your back massage techniques depending on your needs. If you are unsure whether or not a back massage is appropriate for you, please call us at PhysioWorks for individualised advice.

How Does a Back Massage Help You?

Back Massage is a combination of Relaxation, Therapeutic and Remedial Massage to relax your back and your whole mind and body at the same time.

Back massage therapy may also improve your circulation, enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells and helping remove waste products or reduce swelling. Massage’s circulatory effects may be valuable in treating some inflammatory conditions, such as back arthritis.

Massage therapy induces a relaxation response, which lowers your heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure, boosts your immune system, and generally decreases the physical effects of stress.

These effects suggest that massage may be helpful for a wide range of conditions, including mental health issues such as stress and anxiety.

What Conditions Benefit from a Back Massage?

Massage therapy helps your back in numerous ways. A back massage can relax muscle tissue, leading to decreased joint and nerve compression and increased joint and muscle range of motion. This reduced tension commonly results in less pain and improved function.

Therapeutic back massage benefits the following conditions:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• General Wellbeing
• High Blood Pressure
• Back Arthritis
• Low Immunity
• Minor Back Injuries

When are the Best Times for a Back Massage?

The best time for a therapeutic back massage is when you feel yourself getting worked up or not feeling your best. We even have some highly stressed patients who have weekly back massages to cope with daily life. Others find a regular back massage every month or two to be a sustainable dose of prevention therapy.

What Duration is the Best Back Massage?

Suppose you haven’t had a back massage before, or it’s been a while. In that case, your initial treatment should ideally be for 30 to 60 minutes so the massage therapist can work through those tense back and spinal muscles at an even pace to minimise any possible soreness the following day.

If you are a more regular massage recipient, your massage therapist will guide you toward the best direction for you and your back muscles.

What Back Massage Frequency Works Best?

Everyone’s needs differ depending on their lifestyle. As a guide, regular therapeutic back massages work best when on a 4 to 6-week basis. This habit-changing frequency is because your back muscles need to stay relaxed and move through their full range. Most people can put their fingers on knots and painful lumps in their back. You’d probably benefit from a back massage or some back physio treatment if that is you. Otherwise, those knots become “creatures of habit”.

Having a regular back massage will keep your body positively relaxed.

For advice specific to your therapeutic needs, please ask your massage therapist how regularly they feel you should have a back massage to function optimally.

How Can You Guarantee Yourself a Fantastic Massage?

At PhysioWorks, we guarantee you’ll have a fantastic massage, or it’s free! If you’re not completely satisfied within 30 minutes of your back massage, we’ll give you your money back there and then. No questions asked!

For more information about the best massage, please ask one of our PhysioWorks team.

Brisbane Massage Therapists

The massage therapists who consult to PhysioWorks operate independently-owned businesses. Here are some of our massage therapist details.