Sports Massage for Back Tension
How can massage help with back tension?
19/10/2024 By Brandon Booty
(Approx 1-2 minute read)
The Back
The back is made up from the thoracic region (from the bottom of the neck to the bottom of the ribs) and the lumbar region (from the bottom of the ribs to your tailbone) and this transitions into the pelvis.
It’s one of the most common areas to build up tension, and sports massage is a great way to get you feeling better.
How can massage help with back tension?
Muscular tension is a common reason you are either in pain, or just uncomfortable, and can be caused by an array of different factors including stress, previous injuries, overuse of the muscles, poor posture and many more.
Having a deep tissue massage can help with the tension many of you may experience in your back by;
Increasing blood flow to those tense muscles - increasing the amount of oxygen your muscles are getting through techniques such as deep stroking, stretching, compressing and kneading. These techniques increase the temperature, which in turn aids the increase in blood flow. Increased blood flow helps with the removal of waste products, reducing muscle tension,
Improving flexibility - through these techniques, you're essentially warming up the muscles, giving the muscle tissue the ability to stretch further. By elongating the muscle fibres, you decrease tension, break down any adhesions (knots) and allow for more movement,
Releasing endorphins - these are your body's natural painkiller, which can also help with stress related back pain and tension,
Muscle relaxation - using the techniques (above), massage can promote muscle relaxation by targeting muscular knots and tightness therefore reducing the discomfort you are in,
Reducing headaches - by applying pressure and stretching out the muscle fibres in the back, more specifically the neck and shoulders, you take a lot of pressure away from the head, relieving or preventing headaches.
What areas do we target during a back massage?
We always start a massage of with some light effleurage just to get the blood flowing and to warm up the muscles before moving onto the deeper techniques and really target those problem areas;
The muscles in the lower back that are commonly tight are the Erector Spinae; which are a group of muscles that run up the spine, helping with stabilisation and the Quadratus Lumborum; which is a deeper muscle responsible for stabilising and extending the lumbar spine.
The thoracic muscles that are usually tense are the Latissimus Dorsi; with it's main function being the movement of the upper arm, whether its internal rotation, extension or adduction, and the rhomboids; which are a group of muscles that help with the movement of the shoulder blade, predominantly, retracting the shoulder blades.
And finally the upper back and neck, the trapezius; a large triangular muscle that is responsible for scapula stabilisation, movement and supporting the shoulders. The Sternocleidomastoid (SCM for short); which is a large muscle that is located in the front on the neck but originates from just behind the ear and is responsible for neck movement and helps with chewing. and lastly, the Suboccipital muscles; now these are a group of muscles that are located at the base of the skull (formally known as the suboccipital compartment of the neck) and together they extend and rotate the head.
So, are you suffering from tension and want a massage, book in by clicking the link below!
To book your Sports Massage click here.
Please be aware that any signs of significant spinal pain or nerve complaints should be assessed by one of our Dr’s of Chiropractic to diagnose first.
Our clinic is based in central South Woodham Ferrers, with free parking and is easily accessible from Maldon, Chelmsford, Wickford, Danbury, Rayleigh, Wickford, Latchingdon and Southminster.
