Two Therapies To Consider To Compliment Massage Therapy Treatments For Lower Back Pain
If you have a chronic lower back problem, then massage therapy can help to treat your condition. The therapy will assist in the removal of any scar tissue that has formed along the region that may be causing pressure on nerves and muscles. It can also help to relax some tight and cramped strands of muscle tissue that have formed across the back. Deep tissue massage is the best option to help with pain issues. Along with the massage, there are other therapies that you should consider to complement the treatment. A few examples are outlined below.
Water Therapy
Many people who have chronic lower back pain have a sciatica problem where inflamed muscles, spasming muscles, bone spurs, herniated discs, or osteoarthritis complications cause the pain to arise. Not only will you feel pain, but you are likely to feel a weakening of the muscles in the legs and lower back. Tingling and numbness across the legs and feet are common as well. While inflammation reduction and pain relief are two of the most important components of your treatment plan, so is the strengthening of the muscles across your legs and back. This strengthening will help to reduce feelings of weakness and help support the back so that movements can be stronger and fuller.
How It Works
Unfortunately, the upper trunk of the body will place stress on the back and make it difficult to exercise. Completing an exercise routine a day or two after massage therapy sessions and participating in water therapy are two good ways to overcome these difficulties. Water therapy in a pool will help to provide buoyancy so that weight can be reduced from painful areas. The water offers balance, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure. Hydrostatic pressure helps to improve blood flow to the muscles during the workout so the tissues receive the nutrients they need to become strong.
If you are considering water therapy, then make sure to complete exercises like basic calf lifts, squats, knee lifts, and hip twists to strengthen your muscles. If you are unfamiliar with these exercises or others to help with your lower back pain issue, then make sure to consult with your massage or water therapy specialist to see what is best.
Electronic Muscle Stimulation Therapy
If your massage therapist typically finds the same knot or hard group of muscle tissues along your lower back, then you likely have a chronic muscle spasm problem. Unfortunately, your muscles are likely to tense up very quickly after massage therapy is completed. This can cause your treatment progress to stall indefinitely. Also, spasming muscles can make it difficult for you to strengthen or stretch the area during a workout without causing a spasm and a complete lack of support across your back. Your massage therapist or a separate physical therapist can help strengthen the area and loosen the muscle group through the use of electrical stimulation.
How It Works
Electrical muscle stimulation should occur in between massage therapy sessions. During the stimulation technique, a small pad with an electrode will be placed over the muscle group. If there are several problem areas, then several pads can be utilized. A small electrical current is sent to each pad and travels through the skin to the muscle tissue underneath. The current causes the muscle to contract for several seconds. The electrical current is then shut off and the muscle relaxes. The movements mimic how your muscles work as you move naturally. Not only does this strengthen them, but it also trains the muscles to contract and relax normally without spasming.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators are most often used during the therapy, and different electrical wavelengths can be used depending on your pain relief needs and your tolerance to the muscle contractions over a long period of time. If your therapist decides that long-term and high-frequency treatments are needed in between massage sessions, then you may be asked to use a stimulator device at home. You are likely to invest between $250 and $750 in the device for at home use.
For more information about treatments that may complement your massage therapy, talk to the experienced staff at a clinic like Health Atlast Fountain Valley.
