Sports massage is used to treat soft tissue problems including muscle tension, strain and pain caused by these issues. It helps to relax muscles, increase blood flow/circulation and aids recovery. Sports massage also promotes relaxation, which helps enhance mood.
Massages can be good for both moderate and chronic conditions, particularly those associated with back and neck problems.
Most of us experience back pain at some point in our lives, it becomes most common between the ages of 30 - 50.
What causes back pain?
- Age - you lose strength and muscular flexibility.
- Poor posture - you create imbalance within your body, leading to weak and overworked muscles.
- Arthritis - deterioration of vertebrae can cause stiffness and pain, due to the lack of 'shock absorbers'.
- Weight gain - creates pressure on the spine.
- An accident/injury - causing you to create compensation patterns.
There are many different types of back pain, sometimes the area in which you feel the pain, is not actually the origin of the pain. Your therapist should always complete a comprehensive assessment.
Massage can be used to help treat several types of back pain and it can be used alongside medication and other physical therapies.
The most common types of back pain treated are muscular issues in the upper or lower back. Symptoms are normally caused by muscle strains as a result of poor posture, trying to lift something heavy, a fall or sudden movements.
Does it have to be a sports massage to be effective?
Because sports massage is a deep tissue therapy, the therapist is able to work deep into the tissue releasing the tension in muscles, easing inflammation and reducing irritation. Therapists using other forms of massage tend to work the tissue more superficially. Sports massage was originally designed to help improve the overall performance of sports people, helping the body work optimally. This deep tissue technique is therefore best suited d to help treat areas of muscular tension and pain in non sports people too. Regular sessions can help tissues repair faster, meaning a return to your normal mobility and a reduction in pain.
As a Sports Massage Therapist and Personal Trainer, I offer my clients an integrated approach to managing muscular back pain. By understanding the cause and origin of the pain, I help clients to free themselves of pain long term. I offer massage therapy to release tight, tense muscles and I offer corrective exercise to iron out imbalances that are behind the pain. Please call or drop me a line if you would like to discuss how I can help free your from back pain.