Low Back Pain: Five Tips for Massage Therapy Clients

As a professional administering one of the best low back pain relief modalities, massage therapists can also help their clients prevent back pain from recurring.

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One of the most common reasons Americans seek medical help is that low back pain plagues at least four out of five adults at some point in their lives. Capable of causing excruciating pain, finding relief from this common ailment can be tricky. Despite a seemingly endless parade of techniques and products promoting back pain relief, many Americans recognize that massage therapy ranks near the top of low back pain interventions. Since massage therapists frequently encounter low back pain sufferers, knowing how to guide people on keeping their back pain-free can dramatically boost a client’s quality of life.

Massage Tops Low Back Pain Approaches

Massage therapy has been a coveted way to relieve low back pain for as long as historical documents on the subject exist. However, one study looked into massage’s effectiveness in helping this problem. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a study funded by the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine evaluated the effectiveness of massage therapy for chronic low back pain.

In this study, over 400 participants with chronic low back pain either received weekly whole-body massages for relaxation, weekly massages focused on specific muscle problems around the lower back and hips, or usual care. Those receiving care typically took pain medications or muscle relaxants, saw doctors or chiropractors, received physical therapy, or simply did nothing. The researchers found that both types of massage therapy were much more effective at relieving low back pain than usual care. After ten weeks of intervention, the following was reported:

36 percent of patients receiving weekly whole-body relaxation massages said their pain was nearly or completely gone.

39 percent of patients receiving a weekly massage focused on specific muscle problems around the lower back and hips said their pain was nearly or completely gone.

Just 4 percent of patients receiving usual care said their pain was nearly or completely gone.

Tips to Prevent Back Pain

In addition to massage, therapists can also help their clients prevent low back pain recurrence.

The following suggestions can help prevent low back pain from returning:

Quit Smoking – Smoking cigarettes seems to worsen every known health condition, including low back pain. The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke reported that smoking can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the discs, which can cause them to degenerate faster. Further, smoking actually increases one’s risk of osteoporosis and coughing related to smoking may also cause back pain.because smoking hinders blood circulation. The number of years smoking is the factor that is most significantly correlated with chronic back pain.
Movement – Whether behind the wheel, in front of a computer, or just watching TV, sitting for extended periods is one of the worst positions for the low back. The spinal discs are spongy and cushion the vertebrae, but they naturally have a poor blood supply. Upon getting up and moving, fluid circulates the discs. On the other hand, sitting starves the discs of fluid, making them vulnerable to damage.
Stretch and Strengthen Core Muscles – Most physicians agree that regular stretching and strengthening of the core muscles constitute the most important lifestyle practices for preventing back pain. Advise clients in a safe stretch and strengthen program focusing on back, abdominal, oblique, and leg muscles.
Lift Properly – Those who lift heavy objects for a living are well aware of the importance of body mechanics, but the rest of us may not be. Always engage abdominal muscles during a lift, bend the knees, keep back straight, don’t bend at the waist, keep the object close to the body, do not hold an item higher than armpits or lower than knees, don’t move something over 20 percent of your body weight, don’t pivot, twist or turn while lifting, point feet at the item being lifted, and only change direction with the feet (not the waist).
Wear Back-Friendly Shoes – Supportive, low-heeled or flat shoes are crucial for preventing back injury. Although high heels may be high fashion, they may increase the curvature of the lumbar or cervical areas (hyperlordosis). This spinal alignment change increases one’s susceptibility to a low back injury.

Because they offer one of the most effective techniques for relieving low back pain, massage therapists are in an ideal position to advise their clients on injury prevention. By emphasizing the hazards of smoking, sitting, and wearing high heels while encouraging proper strengthening, stretching, and lifting, therapists can effectively help their clients get rid of low back pain.

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References

“16 Ways to Avoid Back Pain.” WebMD, 20 Sept. 2021, www.webmd.com/back-pain/tips-for-pain-relief.

“5 Common Back Problems and Things You Can Do to Help.” WebMD, 19 Feb. 2010, www.webmd.com/back-pain/features/how-to-wreck-your-back.

Cherkin, Daniel C., et al. “A Comparison of the Effects of 2 Types of Massage and Usual Care on Chronic Low Back Pain.” Annals of Internal Medicine, vol. 155, no. 1, 2011, p. 1, https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-155-1-201107050-00002.

Finley, Caitlin R, et al. “What Are the Most Common Conditions in Primary Care? Systematic Review.” Canadian Family Physician Medecin de Famille Canadien, Nov. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6234945/.

Green, Bart N, et al. “Association between Smoking and Back Pain in a Cross-Section of Adult Americans.” Cureus, 2016, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.806.

Hsieh, Lisa Li-Chen, et al. “Treatment of Low Back Pain by Acupressure and Physical Therapy: Randomised Controlled Trial.” BMJ, vol. 332, no. 7543, 2006, pp. 696–700, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38744.672616.ae.

“Low Back Pain – Ninds Catalog.” National Institutes of Health, Mar. 2020, catalog.ninds.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/low-back-pain_0.pdf.

Peloza, John. “Lower Back Pain Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” Spine-Health, 20 Apr. 2017, www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/lower-back-pain-symptoms-and-treatment-options.

“Upper & Middle Back Pain: Symptoms, Causes, & Risk Factors.” WebMD, 1 Nov. 2021, www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20110705/study-massage-helps-treat-low-back-pain.

Zimmermann-Stenzel, Monique, et al. “Smoking and Chronic Back Pain – Analyses of the German Telephone Health Survey 2003.” Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 2008, https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2008.0441.

About the Author

Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., MTCM, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)®

Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., MTCM is a long time advocate of integrating perspectives on health. With a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and a Master's degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches Institute, Nicole has been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. She has gathered acupuncture licenses in the states of California and New York, is a certified specialist with the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, has earned diplomat status with the National Commission of Chinese and Oriental Medicine in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology and is a member of the Society for Integrative Oncology. In addition to her acupuncture practice that focuses on stress and pain relief, digestion, immunity and oncology, Nicole contributes to the integration of healthcare by writing articles for professional massage therapists and people living with liver disease.