Back Pain

Massage should not be done on some medical conditions. If you have a medical condition please ask your Dr. before doing massage.

Most state have laws governing doing massage as a profession so if you're not a Licensed Massage Therapist check your local laws for doing massage on family and or friends without charging. Once you charge your are considered a professional. 

Back pain is probably the most common complaint that we suffer.

With the client lying face down or prone, I like to work on the multifidus muscles first by standing to the side of Client and placing  your thumb on the opposite side of the spine from the side you are standing.






 Next using the palm of the other hand gently but firmly press down then away from the spine. 

(In elderly people the Transverse Process can be brittle, and can easily break. Use extreme caution in doing massage on the elderly. See diagram above.) Work between each vertebrae up and down at least three or four times. Then move out to the other larger muscles with  palms or forearms. Foreames can be more convenient from the same side of the spine. After working both sides go to above the top of the head and with both hands using long smooth strokes with hands open and face down to finish the back massage.
I will be adding a picture to demonstrate the massage techniques.

 Massage lotion will help in all massage techniques except for true deep tissue.

A lot of back pain can be influenced by the hips. So be sure to look at the hip post.