What is Back Pain?

Acute or short-term low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.

Currently, researchers are examining the use of different drugs to effectively treat back pain, in particular, chronic pain that has lasted at least 6 months. Other studies are comparing different health care approaches to the management of acute low back pain (standard care versus chiropractic, acupuncture, or massage therapy). These studies are measuring symptom relief, restoration of function, and patient satisfaction.

Massage Can Relieve Back Pain

Among some of the older medicinal practices is massage. Way before the Western cultures realized its benefits the ancient Greeks and Chinese had discovered its value. The Indians knew before the Westerners that the art of massage was worthy of a place in the medicinal practices of its people. So many different sicknesses could be healed with massage. One of the reasons that this is true is because, though very few of us see it this way, a person's skin is that largest organ that they have. Because of this it is filled with nerve endings and so it is sensitive to touch and to massage. One of the conditions that massage is having good results with is back pain.

There are several reasons why a back massage will help. First a massage will stimulate the production of endorphins. This is the body's natural pain reliever and so this will help make the pain go away. It also diminishes the production of stress hormones including adrenalin, norepinephrine and cortical. Research has shown that when the stress hormones levels are high a person is not able to heal well. So a combination of increased endorphins and decreased stress hormone, both the result of a back massage, are taking pain relief in the right direction.

Massage comes in many forms. It can be done using the essential oils of aromatherapy. There are therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy but as well this makes the person getting the massage feel better. The scents of different types will do much to release tension, and give the person an over feeling of wellbeing.

Some people believe in different kinds of massage that treat one area to give relief to another area. Reflexology is one of these methods. The feet are massage in certain places to give pain relief to other places. Shiatsu is another type of massage that repairs pain and discomfort to one place by massaging another. On the other hand Swedish massage is a form of massage designed to promote healing, improve relaxation of the patient and improve blood circulation. When the blood circulates better this will reduce the swelling of any injury and so help healing.

With so many choices to make it is a wonder that people are able to find the method that works right for them. But whichever one they choose as long as it helps with the back pain, reduces the inflammation, and increases the mobility and flexibility of ones back it will be a welcome addition to the various treatments available for back pain. The more options that can be found to treat the back without using medications the better it is. Pain free can also be pill free.

In some cases massage may not be a good idea. For example, if the back pain is related to broken or fractured bones massage is not suggested. Nor is it a good idea when a woman is pregnant, especially if she is still in the first three months of her pregnancy.

Written by: Scott Parat