What can upper back massage do for you?

What causes pain in the upper back?

Sadly, there are many things that can cause pain in the upper back, sometimes its a combination of things that causes you to notice pain in your back. Before embarking on a relaxing massage, its useful to consider where your pain might be coming from.

Injury or trauma

On-going pain in the upper back can sometimes come from previous trauma or injuries. You might have been in an accident which still irritates you or you may have caused a long term injury to your body through overuse.

The severity of the pain in these situations ranges from debilitating to noticeable tiring of the shoulders, neck or spine. If you have in the past dealt with an injury to the upper back it’s important to make your massage therapist aware before beginning any treatments. 

Lifestyle causes

It’s incredibly common these days to see people in pain from bad posture, a sedentary lifestyle or overuse of the muscles.

As with most things, the key to maintaining a healthy upper back (outside of the chronic conditions) is balance, making sure that you are getting movement in the area, that you have good posture when your seated and that you are mindful of the capability of your back when it comes to lifting and moving things around. 

Chronic medical conditions

Conditions that can cause back pain include sciatica, arthritis, scoliosis, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia. Each of these will need a treatment plan with the help of a doctor but you might sometimes be referred to the care of a physiotherapist and massage therapist to aid in your treatment.

If you believe that you might have an underlying health condition that hasn’t been diagnosed, your first stop should be your GP who will signpost you to the relevant medical care practitioners.

Example:

Someone who works a landscaping job is more likely to pull something in their upper back or neck area, they’ll also commonly have issues with tension in their shoulders. Someone who’s been working in the sector for a long period of time may have caused trauma to the area which is irritated when the muscles are overused.

To combat this, the massage team at Ana Harmony would suggest a weekly or bi-weekly massage to release some of the tension in those muscles which will help keep them supple and ready for use during a job. 

What massage is best for upper back pain?

This question will depend on your circumstances and the story behind your upper back pain. At all costs, the profession in charge of your treatment will want to avoid creating further damage or exacerbating an ongoing issue.   There are a couple of massage therapies that are enjoyed especially among busy professionals who want to relax whilst looking after their muscles!

One type of massage that can help relieve stress and tension is Swedish massage. It involves gentle strokes along specific pressure points on the body, including the neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and feet. The therapist uses her hands, elbows, knees, and feet to apply pressure to various areas of the body.

Another type of massage that helps alleviate pain is deep tissue massage. It focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. Deep tissue massage is particularly effective for relieving chronic pain caused by injuries or arthritis.

The final massage therapy style that we want to add is hot stone massage. If you’ve not had one of these before then you’ll want to give it a go. It’s similar to other massage styles but it uses heated stones to relax the muscles further than you can with just hands.

Each technique provides its own unique benefits, so it’s important to choose the most appropriate treatment for your needs.

How does massage help the upper back area?

The muscles in the upper back are responsible for supporting the spine and helping to maintain proper posture. When these muscles are strained or injured, it can lead to discomfort and stiffness in the neck and shoulders.

By massaging the upper back area, you can relieve tension and stress while improving circulation. Massage therapists can work on specific muscle groups to help alleviate pain and restore flexibility.

In addition to relieving pain, massage therapy can also help prevent future injury. Studies have shown that massage can help strengthen muscles and decrease inflammation.

If you’re suffering from upper back pain, get in touch with the salon and we’ll sort you out a consultation and massage to help ease the pain and stress in your back. 

Pop down to Ana Harmony salon on the Cookham Road in Maidenhead or give us a ring on 01628 298 040 to set up an appointment.