If you suffer from chronic back pain, you can take some comfort in the fact that you’re far from alone. Pain accounts for 80% of visits to general practitioners, and back pain specifically is the primary reason that patients seek medical attention, both in primary care and emergency settings. Annually, we spend approximately 200 billion dollars on managing back pain. Moreover, back pain is a major contributor to costly worker’s compensation claims, lost work hours and decreased productivity. While knowing that so many others share your affliction may offer some solace, massage therapy may ease your suffering. Learn how back massage is a proven therapy for chronic back pain.
Chronic back pain is defined as pain in the back that persists for longer than three months. It’s often associated with other symptoms such as stiffness, weakness, and difficulty with activities of daily living. Treatment for chronic back pain typically includes a combination of physical therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes, such as exercise and stress management. In some cases, surgery may also be recommended.
Before receiving a massage, it is important to get a medical diagnosis to establish the root cause of your back pain. A wide variety of factors, including injury, degeneration of the spine, or certain medical conditions may be the underlying cause. Persistent pain does not necessarily indicate a severe or easily treatable underlying medical condition. While some individuals with chronic low back pain may experience relief through treatment, others may continue to experience pain despite medical and surgical interventions.
In most cases, massage is a safe, soothing and affordable solution for back pain. According to the Journal of the American Academy of American Physicians, people experiencing back pain received relief from “soft tissue manipulation,” or massage. Of course, be sure to check with your doctor before embarking on any new method of treatment.
In many cases, massage reduces back pain by loosening muscles, aiding in both mobility and discomfort. For those suffering from back pain that results from inflammation and degeneration of cartilage, back massage will increase circulation while decreasing tension in the spine. Similarly, for individuals with Chronic Fibromyalgia, massage can increase serotonin and lessen stress hormones. Individuals with Sciatica, who make up about 40% of people in the U.S., can also benefit immensely from massage, as pain stems from muscle tightness around the sciatic nerve.
Back massage provides a non-invasive method of pain relief by encouraging relaxation and faster recovery time. Back massage can also reduce muscle spasms and thus allow muscles to function properly. Massage can relieve back pain in a few main ways:
Massage can help to relieve muscle tension and increase circulation in the back, reducing overall pain and stiffness.
Massage can help to loosen up tight muscles and improve flexibility, which can help to reduce chronic back pain.
Stress can often contribute to chronic back pain. Relaxation massages can help to reduce stress and alleviate pain in the back.
Trigger point therapy focuses on applying pressure to specific points in the body that are known to refer pain to other areas. This type of massage can be particularly effective for chronic back pain.
At CERAGEM, our mission is to eliminate back and muscle pain as much as possible. CERAGEM’S Research and Development team is dedicated to innovation. Read about our company history and our award-winning patented technology.
CERAGEM Master products are the world’s first and only FDA-approved medical devices for massage therapy. The CERAGEM V6, CERAGEM V4, and CERAGEM V3 massage beds offer multiple settings to target various kinds of pain, as well as an infrared heat feature that helps improve circulation and relax tight muscles. Our spinal scanning technology maps spinal length, weight distribution, degree of spinal curvature, and flexion to provide a made-to-measure massage tailored for each user.
Massage therapy is an effective way to manage chronic back pain. Through a variety of techniques, massage can target trigger points in the body, improve range of motion and flexibility, reduce muscle tension and stress, and increase circulation to help relieve chronic back pain. CERAGEM massage beds offer advanced technology that makes it possible to enjoy a customized, consistent massage experience from the convenience of your own home.
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Sources
National Library of Medicine: The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part I, Patients Experiencing Pain in the General Population
Online Etymology Dictionary: Massage
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Back Pain
National Library of Medicine: Back Pain