Allied Health Blog

A good back massage can be one of the great delights of life.  It can have a profoundly relaxing effect, lowering stress levels, easing pain, and inducing a blissful state of repose.  The spine is built of small bones called vertebrae which are stacked up in a column.  Between them are spongy pads known as discs.  The spinal cord, a bunch of nerve fibers, runs down a channel through the spine.  The neck vertebrae are small and this area of the body is very flexible.  On the mid back, each vertebrae is attached to a rib on both sides so movement is more limited.  The lower back vertebrae are large and strong; the spine is very flexible.  Lastly is the sacrum where the vertebrae are fused into a solid triangular base which attaches to the pelvis.  The spinal cord is a bunch of nerves that branch out between the vertebrae to the spinal cord, which is encased in the spine.  Most of  us get the occasional backache: we slouch our shoulders and stand badly, all of which may result in tense knotted muscles.   Massage can help to relax these muscles and alleviate the aches and pains they so often cause.  The benefits of a back massage go beyond simply relaxing the back muscles.  A good back massage enhances the well-being of the whole body.  Nerves branch out from the spine to reach all parts of the body, and through its direct effect on them, massage can benefit the entire nervous system.  You can calm the nerves with slow, rhythmic strokes, or invigorate them with fast brisk movements.  Its good to finish with soothing strokes to leave the person with a relaxed feeling.  Tomorrow we will go over the techniques of stroking which consist of stroking, fan stroking, and alternate stroking.