When your pain is in the back, it is usually because of a problem in the front.
This statement sounds completely backwards. Let me explain. When you are in pain, it is easy to assume that the problem is wherever you feel the pain. So you take a Tylenol and put the heating pad where the pain is and you feel better. But then a few days later, you are in pain again. Why is that?
I have an experiment for you. Take a thick rubber band. Put it over your thumb and forefinger. Now with a paperclip, shorten the front side by folding the band on top of itself, but only on the front side. The opposite side gets pulled and the tension it feels becomes visible. That tension is the pain. It is simply the symptom. The reason for the tension is the shortening of the band in the front. Now remove the paperclip from the front. The tension on the rubber band evens itself out again.
Your muscles work in a similar manner. When you sit, your abdominal muscles and hip flexors are shortened, and your low back muscles are lengthened. Now think about how often you are in that seated position; in the car, at your desk, on the couch, while you are eating, etc. That is a lot of time that for your body to be in a flexed position! That whole time, your low back muscles are working over time trying to hold you upright.
Similarly, think about all the times your arms and head are in front of your shoulders; using a computer, texting, driving in the car, etc. Your upper back and neck are working so hard to pull you back into a homeostatic position that they get over worked and begin to hurt. By lengthening your pectoralis muscles and the Sternocleidomastoid, you are allowing your neck and shoulders to return to the proper position.
Massage therapy uses a combination of gliding and compression movements to lengthen the muscles that have become shortened and increase blood flow to the areas that are in pain, allowing for the body to heal. Regular massage therapy appointments ensure that the clients’ muscles stay hydrated and pliable to help reduce the risk of new and recurring injury.
Having worked in the massage therapy field for almost 15 years I have had the pleasure of working on hundreds of bodies. While some clients find silence to be relaxing, others like to talk. I encourage everyone to do whatever helps them to feel comfortable. I also like to encourage people to ask questions so that they better understand what I am doing and help put their mind and body at ease. Below is a collection of just a few of the more frequently asked questions I have been asked.
- Don’t your hands get tired?
- Sometimes, but not very often. My forearms tend to get tired before my hands.
- How many massages can you do in a day?
- I try to do no more than 6 hours
- What is the greatest number of massages you have ever done in a row?
- 7, and I couldn’t write my name for a week!
- Has anyone ever fallen asleep?
- All the time! I take it as a compliment
- How often should I get a massage?
- That depends on the goal of your session. If you have an issue that you are trying to alleviate, I recommended twice a week for 6 weeks. If you are looking to maintain your health and wellness, every 2-4 weeks will best fit your needs. The good thing about massage is that it is impossible to overdose!
- What makes a knot?
- A knot is when muscle fibers adhere together in the muscle belly making the area inflamed and cause pain.
- Did you go to school for this?
- And I take continuing education classes to help improve the work I do.
- How can you massage people’s feet and butt?
- Just like I massage the rest of their bodies, with my hands!
- How did you find that spot?
- Does your husband get a massages all the time?
- No, have you ever met a house painter who comes home excited to paint their own house?
- Do I have to get naked?
- Whatever is comfortable for you. If that means you leave on your undergarments, you can.
- What does it feel like when the muscle releases?
- It feels like my hand is moving, just a little, when in fact I am keeping it still on the pressure point.
- My pain is in the back. Why are you working on the front?
- I believe in working the cause, not just the symptom. While the pain you are having in located in the back, it is because those muscles are elongated and compensating for the shortened muscles in the front.
If you have any questions that you would like answered, please feel free to ask and I will be happy to answer!
