Skip the Painkillers: Massage Therapy Is an All-Natural Treatment for Lower Back Pain

Back pain is a common issue that affects the general population, regardless of what you do for a living, how old you are, or your gender. Lower back pain is the culprit for many back pain sufferers, and the effects can be debilitating. In fact, back pain isn’t only the No. 1 reason for lost work hours and workman's compensation claims, but it’s also the most common reason for primary care and emergency room visits.

 If you count yourself among the 80-90% of all Americans who’ve experienced back pain at some time during their life, you’re all too aware that finding relief can be frustrating, especially if you prefer to avoid prescription pain medication. 

But what’s the alternative? Think “massage therapy” from the highly skilled licensed massage therapists at Stamford Spine in Stamford, Connecticut. In this blog, we’ll explain what massage therapy is and how it can spell relief for lower back pain.
Massage therapy versus a spa massage
While both a spa massage and massage therapy result from a provider applying varied degrees of pressure to soft tissue — that’s where the similarities end. Essentially, a spa massage is a quick stress and tension reliever while massage therapy is a medical-grade therapeutic service with a longer-term health payoff.

Here at Stamford Spine, we’re licensed massage therapists who are specially trained and certified to leverage the power of soft tissue manipulation. Specifically, we apply varied degrees of pressure and perform particular movements to create strategic desired effects on your muscles, connective tissue, skin, and ligaments. 

Enhances circulation and loosens ligaments
When it comes to relieving pain — in particular, lower back pain — massage therapy, such as Swedish massage, impacts your physical and mental health while simultaneously relieving your pain. When we perform soft tissue manipulation, it relaxes your tendons, muscles, and joints and also increases your blood circulation, which warms your body and triggers pain relief.

 But that’s not where the benefits end. While all this is happening, the two key symptoms of chronic pain (anxiety and stress), are also addressed. Because massage stimulates competing nerve fibers, your brain doesn’t get the memo to feel pain.

Can aid in sciatica pain relief
The great thing about massage therapy is that it can be used to alleviate a variety of pain, including radiating pain from sciatica. If you have ever suffered from sciatica, you know that even the simplest tasks like sitting, standing, or walking may cause debilitating pain. 

Massage therapy boosts blood flow to the affected area, delivering healing power. While massage therapy can’t cure sciatica, it can bring relief. 

Works well with chiropractic care and other integrative services
Regardless of the underlying cause of lower back pain, the pain manifests differently from patient to patient, which is what makes getting relief that much more challenging. Simply put, there just aren’t any cookie-cutter or one-size-fits-all solutions. Effective treatment plans often mean attacking the issue by blending treatment options.

 And that’s what makes massage therapy particularly beneficial — it complements other medical treatments. Here at Stamford Spine, we’ve been able to release many patients from the burden of pain by combining massage therapy with our other noninvasive, integrative services like chiropractic care and therapeutic exercise. That’s very good news for the estimated 51.6 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain.

Our team is committed to providing superior personalized, hands-on care to address your unique needs. To seek relief without pain medication, contact us at Stamford Spine in Stamford, Connecticut, to learn more about massage therapy. Schedule your appointment online or call us today.