# Massage Therapy for Back Pain

**By Paula Gallagher** · 2017-04-24

![back-pain](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0319/0960/9603/files/back-pain-300x188.jpg)In the United States, lower back pain leads all disorders for years lost in disability. Doctors at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Indiana University say that more 50% of people who participated in a study where they received massages experienced clinically meaningful improvement in their back pain. We have all experienced back pain at some point. It can start as a mild nuisance or a nagging, dull ache which develops into a sharp debilitating pain that won’t go away. Back pain continues to be a major health and economic problem for Americans, especially in our 30s and 40s.  Pain can usually be classified in one of two categories – acute or chronic – based on the duration of the pain. Acute low back pain can present in many ways and may start without any apparent reason at all, or it may result from a back strain. It’s typically the result of a significant physical exertion and can last from a few minutes to several weeks or months. Interestingly, the intensity of back pain may not feel equal to the type of injury sustained. Chronic back pain can be as a result of an acute injury that you never have fully recovered from, or something like osteoarthritis, which affects 1 in 10 Americans. Osteoarthritis can attack the joints of the spine, resulting in chronic back pain. If you suffer from lower back pain and are concerned about the risks associated with long-term use of some medications, alternative back pain treatments, like massage, may help you reduce medication use and promote self-care. Massage therapy is a hands-on approach designed to optimize health by manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, involving the muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints. A great massage therapist will assess a client's needs and tolerance and provide different options such as deep tissue massage, muscle energy techniques, flushing techniques, strain-counterstrain, active release techniques, and myofascial release. Massage therapy treatments can reduce tension and pain, increase circulation and improve flexibility. Sessions may be scheduled over a 6-week period or as necessary. Ask your healthcare practitioner if massage can help you relieve your back pain and put the spring back in your step. _Photo from [here](https://www.flickr.com/photos/travelinlibrarian/5842244955/in/photolist-9Ug2Ti-7QURTQ-pgNpZr-egMUYw-5LztEk-bXae3L-5aMX1v-oEzW5e-7wsaHh-6JWcFg-pYTa9e-8weWgy-apcXTb-bc1yiX-hxdRWm-5Aqd6N-dVy7PS-agJJNB-JWrn9-87w3AC-j4wcWh-8WbZUA-4iVffj-ddv6Lk-5SCuSj-TK9zXH-3fCcUW-4Tapdw-hyatP2-qKnuN-sKdatv-oP7aL5-anC5Tu-2VFqqo-dpViPj-9Gn8DP-qtWsRf-7vRACW-6wZhiT-5SMPrg-7Wizdb-5hoapQ-RJVViW-mH5n9c-TdaVRk-dGiyJX-d4vyjb-kWNxnp-82m3bB-nJ3wNL), with thanks._

**Tags:** alternative therapies, back pain, Category_Health Concerns, massage

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> Source: [Village Green Apothecary](https://myvillagegreen.com/blogs/post/massage-therapy-for-back-pain)