We’ve had lots of people ask for more back massage instructional videos after seeing our upper back and shoulder how-to instructional video. So we have put together another learn-to-massage video to show you some more techniques that you can use on your family and friends for their lower back.
There’s always time for a bit of time out and relaxation – so take 5 minutes out of your hectic schedule and have some fun with your family learning how to give a relaxing back massage.
Watch and learn from Anna, our Remedial Massage Therapist as she teaches you some basic techniques that you can try out on your lucky partner.
Then just give it a go!
PS. If you would prefer to receive a remedial or relaxation massage from an expert give us a call at Miami Physio on 95344111 or Lakelands Physio on 95429999 or book online.
If you want to know the details of how massage helps – read on:
Massage therapy works in a number of ways to decrease pain. Firstly, by activating the pain-gating system. Nerves are like a one-way street, they can only pass one message at a time. This means that during a massage, the large nerve fibres in the skin are activated, switching off the transmission of pain messages.
The second mechanism is activation of the Relaxation Response, which is the body’s ability to decrease the psycho-physiological response of stress. The Relaxation Response helps to create calm, helps the body to rest, decreases blood pressure, decreases the heart rate, decreases the output of stress hormones and decreases muscular tension. This calming of the central nervous system results in a decrease in the sensitization of the pain receptors, which decreases the sensation of pain.
Thirdly, when muscles are in a state of spasm, which often occurs with any pain, the connective tissue within the muscle becomes taut, and is then subjected to decreased circulation, decreased nutrients and becomes hyperirritable, often creating myofascial trigger points (muscle knots). These myofascial trigger points become a secondary source of pain. Myofascial release (trigger point massage) involves manual pressure of the trigger point with prolonged stretching to break up these fascial adhesions, increase circulation, increase the flexibility of the muscle and importantly causes a release of endogenous opiates – your body’s natural pain killers.
Massage doesn’t just feel good, it helps to decrease your pain, improves your relaxation and decreases your stress response – leaving you feeling happy and like you’re walking on a cloud.
