Is Massage Therapy Good for Lower Back Pain?
15th March 2025
Lower back pain plagues many of us thanks to today’s world of long office hours or strenuous manual labour. It can be hard to deal with these issues yourself, and sometimes you just need a professional, using evidence-based approaches to help you manage pain.
Massage therapy can be great for treating lower back pain, and we’re here to teach you more about that.
Areas in the lower back that can cause pain
Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of issues, and the first step toward treatment is discovering where your pain is coming from.
Firstly, lower back pain can be caused by muscular injury or inflammation. Muscle strain, which can cause pain, is often the result of overuse during sport or manual labour. Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, and this can also lead to pain.
Lower back pain is also often caused by nerves. Nerves can become compressed by inflamed muscles and joints at the base of the spine, which links to intense shooting pain in the lower back. Also, compressed nerves can be the cause of sciatica, which is pain that begins at the lower back or buttocks, and shoots down the leg(s).
Another area which often causes lower back pain is the spinal discs. These spinal discs can become herniated or slipped, which means the jelly-like substance in the centre of the disc leaks out and pushes against the surrounding spinal nerves. This can cause pain and numbness.
What techniques are used in a lower back massage?
In a lower back massage, you need to employ a number of techniques to get the most out of the treatment type.
One such technique is used during a deep tissue massage and involves using deep strokes, applying heavy pressure to target muscle fibers which allows deeper muscles to be reached. During a deep tissue massage, which can be beneficial in managing lower back pain, it’s also important to use rolling techniques to promote blood flow and hormone release. This can also help with joint function.
Another technique which is useful for lower back pain is targeting fascial trigger points to gradually release tension and reduce pain. Fascial tissue is a connective tissue which surrounds muscles and bones, providing support and protection. As a result of overuse or stress, this tissue can become tight, compressing muscles and causing pain. Applying pressure directly to these areas of restriction can release tightness, and provide pain relief.
It’s equally important when treating lower back pain to focus on joint mobilisation and manipulation. Using these techniques has been shown to increase blood flow and lymphatic circulation, aiding in the reduction of stiffness and pain.
When can a lower back massage help you?
A lower back massage can help you when used in unison with other methods of treatment and pain management. At Injury Mechanics, we know lower back massages are best used as part of a larger recovery plan. So, whilst they are definitely a useful form of pain relief, we’d also suggest treatments such as acupuncture, or our injury rehabilitation service. This way, we can help you develop a long term plan which you can use, alongside our sessions, to permanently manage your lower back pain.
In general, a lower back massage can help you when you’re experiencing chronic pain in this area, as well as relieving stress or tension which could actually be leading to back pain.
Is it good to get a massage when you have lower back pain?
It is beneficial to get a massage when you have lower back pain, especially when dealing with acute pain. If we can determine a muscular root of pain, then targeting this is crucial to reducing pain. Often, the right massage can be the beginning of the process of managing pain in the long term.
The pros and cons of a massage for lower back pain
Here are some of the pros and cons of a massage for lower back pain:
Pros:
Short term pain relief - Massage can relieve inflammation or pressure which could be leading to pain in a number of ways.
Increase blood flow - Lower back massages are known to increase blood flow in targeted areas, which promotes healing and pain relief by delivering oxygen to the muscles.
Stress relief - Massages provide relaxation by releasing hormones. Lowered stress aids the body in healing, as well as improving general wellbeing.
Cons:
Part of a larger process - A skilled massage is not a ‘cure’ or permanent solution for back pain. You should see massage therapy as part of an overall process which is targeted towards easing symptoms, and finding solutions which can be repeated in order to manage back pain.
For example, at Injury Mechanics, we might prescribe you with certain exercises which you can do by yourself, which would be ideal to control your back pain in the long term.
Can fail to target correct points - Simply receiving a massage for lower back pain doesn’t guarantee that the roots of your issues will be found and resolved. A massage might not always find the certain areas or trigger points of your problems.
Again, it is vital when treating lower back pain to consider a number of different options and techniques to achieve the best possible relief, which is also sustainable.