Comments on: Relaxation Massage is More Effective Than Remedial Massage for Chronic Lower Back Pain.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 05:28:06 +0000

Learnt from the best, eh? 🙂

By: Aran Bright

Aran Bright — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 22:12:22 +0000

Hi Kathryn, that is really nice to hear. One of the key points that we all as massage therapists need to become aware of is that the effect that the client’s brain has on their own body is much greater than any effect that the massage has. Mechanical pressure can trigger change in a clients body but it is not the case that more pressure is better. In fact it is more the case that the right amount of pressure will have the best effect. It is a tough mind set to change and I for one struggle with this concept daily, especially when a client has an expectation of a strong treatment. You sound like you have already got it clear in your mind what you are really doing when it comes to massage. Good luck and keep up the good work!

Aran

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 22:42:41 +0000

I’ve been on both ‘ends’ of this, as a patient dealing with a spinal injury and chronic back pain, and as a therapist.

As a patient, it’s not nice when a treatment hurts more than what pain you came in with and it gets incredibly frustrating when you get a therapist who just wants to ‘bash you up’ each week/fortnight/month to get results.

What I’ve found from a patient’s P.O.V – having an awesome MST work on me for the past 6 years – is, while deep work is sometimes needed, lighter work can have a really great effect in getting the muscles (and the whole body and mind too!) to just chill out and stop locking up.

As a therapist, it’s frustrating to have clients come in expecting (and sometimes wanting!!) a treatment to HURT. I can’t understand how someone wanting to get rid of pain, wants to have pain inflicted? Yes, there can be some discomfort when you hit a trigger point, but it’s not supposed to hurt! Just recently, doing a firm-but-gentle and slower treatment on a lady with Fibromyalgia, she commented that she really enjoyed it, as she felt things releasing and it was still NICE to have a treatment – not painful and stressful like treatments she’d had with other therapists in the past.

It’s also a lot easier on my body not having to ‘bash’ someone for an hour 🙂

By: Aran Bright

Aran Bright — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 21:56:32 +0000

Hi Ashly,

Rest may in fact be the best method for some, however it is worth noting that massage was compared with rest in the original study and massage came out as more effective! Have you tried massage for you back pain, I am guessing you have?

Aran

By: Ashly Marquardt

Ashly Marquardt — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 02:02:34 +0000

i think the best way to fix back pain is lots of rest, that helps me usually

By: Aran Bright

Aran Bright — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 23:20:51 +0000

Hi Elvia,

Have you tried massage for lower back pain? Or have you found other methods that give you relief?

Aran

By: Elvia Lagore

Elvia Lagore — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 21:09:29 +0000

i wish i didnt have back pain 🙁

By: Aran Bright

Aran Bright — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 05:16:29 +0000

Hi Kim,

Thank you for your comments and insight. The wonderful thing about research like this is that it can validate well what has been demonstrated within a clinical environment for many years. Opinions about what is “the right way to do things” does not enter into it. As you point out, many students believe, and are taught, more pressure equals better results. Hopefully we can dispel this myth, whilst realising there are times when firm pressure is appropriate and indicated. When performing massage for chronic pain, relaxation and “retraining” of the nervous system should probably be the first step.

Aran

By: Kim Kempthorne

Kim Kempthorne — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 04:23:14 +0000

This is a very good article that supports what I have practiced for many years. For our bodies to accept change when we are in pain there must be some gentle introduction to therapeutic touch. I agree that eventually some deeper work may have to be performed, however, not necessarily on the first visit or even the second. I have never seen the need to put a client through excruciating pain. From a Lecturers point of view I am saddened to see students getting exciting about putting elbows in trigger points and using the “no pain, no gain” attitude and wanting to forget all the basic, gentle techniques they learn in their initial massage classes.

I have utilized Swedish massage as a first therapy for over 20 years and my clients have never come out bruised or beaten and I often found that Swedish massage, done well, in the right areas,accompanied by a few well placed MFR techniques and stretches ensured that when the client returned they were vastly improved and then I could concentrate on what was left.

Even at this point however, the least amount of pain needs to be elicited. If you put someone in too much pain they will tense against your efforts and surely this is counterproductive to an effective treatment. Don’t get me wrong, remedial techniques are very useful, but they don’t have to be the first choice in a lot of cases . I wonder if a few more minutes spent on listening to the client and completing a more in-depth physical assessment would assist the therapist to realise that thumbs, elbows and knuckles may not be the only way to get a result?

I am very happy that you have highlighted this research, as a therapist I have seen the results over and over of actually being gentle and specific with treatments and not just launching in with every hard and painful technique that can be remembered.