HELP FOR BACK PAIN WITH SPORTS MASSAGE IN CHORLEY
Back pain affects between one in three and one in six people throughout their lifetime, and is one of the leading causes of disability in the world.
Find out what causes back pain, what you can do to treat back pain at home, what doctors can do for back pain and how massage and sports massage can help people struggling with back ache or other back problems.
WHAT IS BACK PAIN?
Written by Arran Tomlinson, Sports Massage Therapist at Muscle Mender, Buckshaw Village, Chorley
Back pain is a very common condition and can affect people of all ages, shapes and sizes - although it's more common in people who are overweight, or older, or who are struggling with other physical or emotional issues.
There are many different types of back pain: it can feel like a dull, constant ache that comes and goes, or a sudden, sharp pain that can make it feel difficult to move.
Science shows that understanding what causes back pain, how to treat it at home and when to seek professional help can improve the quality of life for people with stiff, sore or painful backs, especially those looking for help with their back pain in Chorley and Buckshaw Village.
To understand back pain, it's useful to know that the back is made up of the spine and muscles, ligaments and nerves that surround the spine.
The spine is made up of 33 small bones (called vertebrae) that are stacked on top of each other. The spinal cord runs through the middle of the vertebrae, and the vertebrae protects the cord as well as supporting the body.
In between each of the vertebrae are small, strong, pieces of tissues called intervertebral discs - or just "discs". These discs can be thought of as "shock absorbers", between each of the vertebrae.
The back is also made up of muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. The muscles in the back are large and strong, and along with the ligaments, help support the spine and allows the body to move. The nerves in the back come from the spinal cord, and branch out to various parts of the body.
When it comes to the cause of back pain, any of these structures can play a part in causing back pain.
WHAT CAUSES BACK PAIN?
Back pain, whether it's Lower Back Pain (known as LBP) or Chronic Lower Back Pain (cLBP) is very common, but science is still learning about what is happening when it comes to back ache.
These days, many scientists feel that back pain isn't linked to how much weight a body carries, but how much inflammation there is throughout the body (people who are overweight often have more inflammation throughout their bodies).
Scientists have also started to discover that emotions can be linked to back pain. Stress can make it more likely that you will have back pain, and lonely people have been found to be more likely to have back pain, too.
Other common causes of back pain can include injuries like falls or accidents, overuse, posture problems, and medical conditions like arthritis or scoliosis.
HOW YOU CAN TREAT BACK PAIN AT HOME IN CHORLEY
If you develop new back pain or back ache, there are some treatments you can try at home.
Many people will try treating back problems with painkillers. You should only take painkillers that you know are safe for you to take - if you don't know what painkillers are safe for you, a chemist or GP can help. Some painkillers help reduce the sensation of pain, but other painkillers (anti-inflammatories) help reduce inflammation too.
Some people will use either heat or ice to help with back problems. Heat can feel very comforting when you have back pain. Ice can help reduce inflammation and numb the painful area, but studies now suggest that ice can slow healing in some cases.
Gentle stretching and movement can also help with back pain, although it is important do movements that feel too uncomfortable.
Finally, making sure you get enough sleep can help with back pain, even though it can be difficult to get to sleep if you back is painful! Sleep helps the body heal and reduces stress and anxiety, too.
HOW DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TREAT BACK PAIN
If home remedies don't help with your back pain, you might decide to go and see a GP.
Many GPs will treat back pain initially with stronger painkillers (prescription painkillers), and may refer you to a NHS Physiotherapist for further treatment. They may also refer you for an MRI or Xray to see if there is any structural cause for the pain you are feeling.
A physiotherapist may suggest a variety of exercises and stretches to help relieve the pain and strengthen the back and correct any postural problems that may be to blame for the back pain.
Some people choose to seek massage or sports massage therapy for back pain. Sports massage - like that offered by Muscle Mender in Chorley - focuses on restoring movement and reducing pain, and while results cannot be guaranteed, many people find sports massage a useful complementary therapy for back pain.
I treat back pain using a variety of techniques, including massage, sports massage, cupping, scraping and kinesiology taping.
When I see my clients, I examine exactly what is going on because as a fully trained therapist, I know that the cause of pain is not always where you feel it - back pain can be caused by issues in other parts of the body such as the knees or hips or shoulders.
The treatment I offer is personalised for you, with the aim of helping you get back to doing what you love as soon as possible.