Massage Therapy for Back Pain and Injuries in Regina, SK

Benefits of massage therapy for back pain in Regina, SK.

The answer for many people is a resounding yes! Massage therapy can be extremely effective in many ways such as the relaxing of tight muscles, increasing range of motion in joints, releasing endorphins, which help on a pain relief level.  There are many different types of massage but overall it is considered to be a very safe, non-invasive and not overly aggressive form of treatment for both acute and chronic back pain, when compared to some other options.

Massage Therapy is One of The Best Treatments For Back Pain

Over the last 10 years or so, massage therapy has become more widely accepted within the medical, rehabilitation and therapy community as being an effective form of treatment for back pain of many types. It has become much more mainstream as a stand-alone treatment and also as a complimentary treatment option in conjunction with other medical or rehabilitation treatments.

The current research indicates that therapeutic massage provides many health benefits to patients suffering with back pain, including:

• Reduce muscle tension and tightness – This relaxation of muscle tissue improves overall flexibility, reduces pain created by muscle tightness and has been shown to improve sleep.
• Reduce tension on joints – By reducing the tightness in muscles, an added benefit can be reduced stress on the joints resulting in an increase in movement and a reduction in pain.
• Increased blood flow and circulation – Increasing circulation will help bring oxygenated blood and nutrition to the muscles and associated tissues, helping muscle soreness recovery from injury or from physically strenuous activities
• Increasing endorphin release – The brain releases a “feel good” chemical known as endorphins. Endorphins have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. This has also been shown to reduce pain and reduce recovery times which can help those also suffering with a back injury or pain.

Many Back Problems Can Benefit from Massage Therapy Treatment At HealthWorks in Regina

As mentioned earlier, massage therapy has become a more mainstream choice of treatment for back pain and injury and consequently, healthcare providers such as medical doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists, surgeons and specialists regularly refer their patients to a massage therapist in addition to medical treatment. Feel free to ask your health care provider if a referral to massage therapy for your back pain would be beneficial. Most insurance companies cover therapeutic massage treatments through group benefits and private insurance plans, and HealthWorks offers the convenience of direct billing to most insurance companies and health plans.

Here are some examples of common back issues that may benefit from massage therapy treatment:

• Muscle strain in the lower back or upper back/neck. Most episodes of acute lower back pain are caused by muscle strain. The low back pain can be very severe and last for several hours, several days or even a few weeks. When back muscles are strained or torn, the area around the muscles can become inflamed. With inflammation, the muscles in the back can spasm and cause both severe lower back pain and difficulty moving. The large upper back muscles are also prone to irritation, either due to de-conditioning (lack of strength) or overuse injuries (such as repetitive motions). Upper back pain may also be due to a specific event, such as a muscle strain, sports injury, or auto accident. Massage can help work out the spasm/irritation and improve range of motion.
• Osteoarthritis of the spine. Spinal arthritis is the breakdown of the cartilage between the aligning facet joints in the back portion of the spine. The facet joints become inflamed and progressive joint degeneration creates more frictional pain as bone rubs on bone. Therapeutic massage can help reduce osteoarthritis pain by improving circulation and reducing stress and muscle tension.
• Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia can affect people differently, but is usually characterized by pain, stiffness, fatigue and/or non-restorative sleep. The patient typically feels both widespread pain and pain in specific “tender points” as evidenced by physical examination. Massage can target both the tender points and the more broadly distributed pain and stiffness. Read more in Management of fibromyalgia.

Massage Therapy Treatments for Back and Neck Pain

When someone comes to HealthWorks for a massage therapy treatment for a specific neck or back problem, your treatment will always begin with a comprehensive health history questionnaire. This helps us to determine your overall health, the history of your condition and prior medical history. Then, a physical assessment of your areas of injury to determine the nature of your pain or injury and develop a treatment plan to help relieve your pain and symptoms. One question patients often ask is: What kind of massage will I get for my specific problem? For overall relaxation and circulation, many patients find the Relaxation Massage technique helpful. This technique is characterized by long gliding strokes and kneading motions.

The Most Effective Form of Treatment For Pain

For more specific areas of pain, such as shoulder, neck, hip and lower back strain, the Academy of Integrative Pain Management recognizes Therapeutic Massage as an effective form of treatment. Myofacial Release is a technique that uses sustained pressure and stretch that can be very effective to relieve chronic pain. The therapist will determine the best approach to use based on your history, the assessment and the symptoms you are experiencing. HealthWorks in Regina offers many types of Massage Therapy to help with your injuries, pain and problems. More of our treatment options and specialty treatments that we offer are:

Relaxation Massage

Therapeutic Massage

Myofacial Release

Crainosacral Therapy

Cupping Massage

Pregnancy / Prenatal Massage

Acupuncture

Physiotherapy

Please contact us to have any of your questions answered and to book an appointment with one of our highly experienced therapists. Start feeling better today!