If you’ve ever dealt with back pain before, chances are that someone has at some point encouraged you to get a massage. According to Dr. Solomon Kamson, back massages can be helpful for alleviating certain types of back pain, but not all types. Getting a massage costs you time and money, so how can you be sure it will be a good investment?


What Exactly Does a Massage Do?


Back massages target pain that results from the development of muscle knots. A muscle knot is a point at which the muscle fibers have contracted and are unable to release themselves naturally. Muscle knots may be the result of injury, fatigue, stress, or poor posture. While muscle knots will usually work themselves out eventually, they can cause pain and discomfort in the meantime and for many people a back massage can significantly decrease this kind of pain.

In a back massage, the masseuse will use her thumb, the palm of her hand, or in some cases the elbow to apply pressure to the points where muscles have knotted. Massages usually take anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour, depending on the amount you are willing to pay, as the masseuse will usually massage the full muscle group causing you pain, not only the specific spots.



Massages help these knots release and they also promote circulation, which can be very helpful in encouraging healing and repair at sites of injury, damage, and trauma. They also promote the release of endorphins, which result in a general good feeling that can temporarily help to reduce pain.

When is Massage Appropriate Treatment?


Back massage may be an appropriate form of treatment in any of the following situations:
• Muscle pain resulting from minor injury
• Strain resulting from heavy lifting, work, or stress
• Pain symptoms that result from osteoarthritis of the spine
• Stiffness and pain resulting from fibromyalgia

If you are experiencing chronic back pain, you should talk to an experienced pain physician like Dr. Solomon Kamson before undertaking even conservative therapies like massage. It is important that the steps that you take to try to reduce your back pain do not actually exacerbate it.

What Should You Tell the Masseuse?


If you are experiencing pain in your upper back and shoulders, ask the masseuse to focus on the erector spinae muscle group. This area, which extends from the base of your neck down through your shoulder blades, is a common area for pain related to stress and sports injury.

If you are experiencing pain in your lower back and hips, ask the masseuse to focus on the quadratus lumborum, the muscle group that connects the last rib to the pelvis. This is especially relevant if you experience back pain in situations where you are straining your lower but not your upper back (think lifting bags out of your car’s trunk or leaning over the kitchen sink from the trunk).

You can also ask the masseuse to pay attention to the gluteus medius. This muscle group in your hip is frequently the muscle group that is most taxed when your QL muscle group is strained as it will often try to compensate for the lack of motion and strength when that muscle group is injured. If you alert the masseuse to your specific issues, you are more likely to get benefits from your massage.