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Monday, February 5, 2007
Massage Therapy and Back Pain
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Registered massage therapists are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of injuries of the soft tissue and joints of the body. They use a blend of modern science and ancient philosophies to treat many conditions. Massage therapy is becoming more widely accepted in the medical community as a credible treatment for many types of back pain. Studies have shown that massage therapy can benefit chronic back pain sufferers by increasing blood flow and circulation, decreasing tension in the muscles, reducing pain caused by tight muscles and even improving sleep. Massage therapy can provide relief for many common conditions that cause back pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and various other soft tissue sprains and strains.
Massage is non-invasive and considered very low risk for most people. In addition to physical benefits, massage is usually relaxing. This can have profound psychologically benefits, particularly to someone suffering from chronic back pain. Depression is a symptom of chronic pain. Massage is thought to release endorphins, natural chemicals in the body that make you feel good and act as pain suppressors.
It is estimated that 75% of healthcare providers have sent their patients to massage therapists. If appropriate, you may want to ask your physician for a referral to a massage therapy professional in your area.
Most episodes of acute lower back pain are caused by muscle strain, such as from lifting a heavy object, or a traumatic injury like a sudden movement or a fall. The lower back pain can be severe and last anywhere from several hours to a couple of weeks. When back muscles are strained or torn, they can become inflamed.
With inflammation, the back muscles can spasm, thus causing both lower back pain and difficulty in moving. Massage therapy helps to relieve muscle spasm, improve body circulation and promote healing injuries. It can also help prevent injury. The large upper back muscles are also prone to irritation, either due to weakness or overuse.
Spinal arthritis is the inflammation of the joints of the spine. It can cause the breakdown of cartilage between the aligning facet joints in the back portion of the spine. As the facet joints become inflamed they create frictional pain as bone rubs on bone. Massage therapy can help to reduce osteoarthritis pain by improving circulation, reducing stress and muscle tension. However, it is important to seek a professional who is specifically trained in treating people with arthritis.
It is important to obtain a proper diagnosis on the cause of your back pain from a medical practitioner before beginning massage therapy. This is to ensure you receive the appropriate treatments and to rule out potentially serious conditions.
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For back pain sufferers, it is important obtain an accurate medical diagnosis of the cause of back pain. Massage therapy can effectively treat many types of back pain on its own or when combined with medical treatment. More revealing facts and resources about causes and treatment of back pain is available at
http://www.guidetobackpain.com/art-massage
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Upper Back Pain
There can be many other causes— injury, accidents, upper disc displacement and many more.
There is a great deal of stability and less motion in the upper back, which is thoracic spine region. So, spinal disorders are not very common. Conditions like herniated disc, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and spinal disability can cause upper back pain, but such cases are few. This being the case, it is difficult to identify the causes for the upper back pain, precisely. Even an MRI Scan or CT Scan will not be of much help. So, it is not easy for the doctor to find a surgical solution, if the pain persists for a long period.
Modern amenities are not without the accompanying problems. A poor posture over a period of time creates strain in a particular region and that region happens to be your upper back, in case you are a computer operator and work throughout the day in front of your PC. Neck pain and shoulder pain are the comrades -in arms -of the upper back pain.
Here are some more causes of upper back pain:
1. Lack of strength in the particular region.
2. Injuries and damage to the muscles of the region caused through repetitive motions i.e. working in a particular machine in a particular manner. Take for example, hand molding machines. On an average a person does 1500 hand-operated motions in a working schedule of 8 hours.
3. Muscle strains and sports injuries.
Here again. You have to understand your back pain. With the nature of your work known to you, identify the area of your upper back, which is mostly strained. Do such yoga asanas, which help to ease the stress in that area. Do regular oil massage. If this is done in a systematic manner, there would not be any cause for the upper back pain to happen.
Because upper back is a big area, and also 'muscle junction', you have to adapt to a system of doing several stretching and strengthening exercises.
If you get the upper back pain, do not panic. Avoid hard medications and painkillers at any cost. Even best of the hospitals, the renowned specialists, have understood the virtue of physio-therapy. Follow it now, for your suffering is due to your past failings and negligence!
http://www.backpaindetails.com/pain/ & Upper Back Pain provides detailed information on back pain, back pain treatment, back pain cure, upper back pain and more.