2 minute read –
Back pain is all too common with the modern world; hunching over phones, too much sitting and uncomfortable work spaces. But can sports massage help relive back pain, a recent study found sports massage more effective for reducing back pain than many traditional medication such as ibuprofen… 40% of subjects who had a weekly massage for 10 weeks reported a significant reduction in their pain, compared to just 4% of subjects receiving usual care.
I’ve been practising sports massage for over 10 years both having massages and giving massages. Recently its becoming more popular and people understand the benefits more.
But what is sports massage?
Sports massage is a deep-tissue treatment which works by stretching and manipulating the soft tissues of the body to increase circulation, promote relaxation of the structures and break down any adhesions.
How does it work?
The main difference between a sports massage and a regular massage is that it specifically targets and reduces tension in muscles and soft tissues that are affected by pain or injury. Pre-event, light, fast, stroking, vibration and percussion techniques are used to stimulate circulation and relaxation of the muscles. Post-event massage is best done within an hour or two of the event and restores the muscles to normality by similar light, long techniques to relax the muscles and flush out waste products. Rehabilitative massage is aimed at restoring function and alleviating pain through deep stretching, kneading and pressure techniques and trigger point therapy is often used to break down adhesions and aid movement.
What are the benefits?
Reported benefits are:
- Increased circulation
- Increased flexibility
- Reduced pain
- Reduced tension-both physically and mentally
- Reduced recovery time post-event
- Increased quality of training
- Prevention of injury
- Faster rehabilitation after an injury
It’s not just for sports people as, as demonstrated in the study, it can help greatly with back pain as well as relieving sore shoulders and stiff necks. Probably because of today’s lifestyle (and where we’re placed-in the middle of a busy commercial district) we treat more tension and posture related pain than anything else.
If you are suffering from back pain and are in need of some massage, check out our website for availability and pricing.