Low back pain is very common but a precise cause is often not found. Researchers found that 60-80% of people will experience uncomplicated back pain at some time in their life.
Possible causes include:
Lumbar Strain: strain or microscopic tears of the muscle and ligaments.
Facet Joint Syndrome: joints can be injured from a sudden force where the back is twisted or arched, or where the spine is repetitively placed into extension.
Herniated Disc: the soft "shock absorber" disc structure becomes swollen and pinches nearby nerve cells.
Degenerated Disc: the disc lose moisture and function.
Registered Massage Therapy may help:
* decrease pain
* decrease muscle spasm
* improve function and range of motion
* provide an exercise program to assist return to full function
Researchers have found that 70% of acute patients with non-specific low back pain will improve within two weeks, and 90% will improve and resume their normal activity within four to five weeks.
Research
Review of the evidence for the effectiveness, safety, and cost of acupuncture, massage therapy, & spinal manipulation for back pain
The study showed that massage therapy was more effective and also more cost-effective in the treatment of low back pain, than acupuncture of spinal manipulation.
(Daniel C. Cherkin et al, Annals of Internal Medicine 2003, 138:898-906).
Massage for low-back pain
New, high quality trials show that massage gives some relief from back pain that has continued for many weeks or months - and the benefit may continue at least a year after the course of massage is over. Massage was more likely to work when combined with exercises (usually stretching) and education. There is a trend showing that the greatest benefit came with massage from an experienced licensed massage therapist.
(Furlan AD, Brosseau, Imamura M, Irvin E., The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006 Issue 1, Copyright 2006 The Cochrane Collaboration)
Visit www.massagetherapy.bc.ca for more information.
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