Massage is an effective therapy for low back pain, according to a study sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. A group of patients received an hour of massage each week for 10 weeks while one other group received standard care for their backaches, like medication and physical therapy. Some of the massage group received relaxation massage, a technique which promotes relaxation through kneading and stroking motions. The people who received massages reported a significant improvement in symptoms and activity levels over the standard care group. You can reduce another person’s pain by using proper massage techniques to work out kinks in the back.
Step 1
Ask the recipient to remove his shirt. Ladies may keep a bra on, if desired, at the risk of staining the garment with oil. If the recipient is not comfortable removing his shirt, perform the massage with dry hands. Ask the recipient to lay on a tall, comfortable surface like a bed, couch or table. It is less convenient and effective to perform massage on a hard, cold floor.
Step 2
Apply a scarce amount of oil or lotion to your hands and rub your hands together to warm the lubricant. Oil reduces skin friction and prevents hair-pulling, according to Massage Health Therapy, but it also decreases the intensity of the massage. Use little oil for a deep, penetrating massage.
Step 3
Stand at the recipient’s head. Place one hand on each shoulder and glide your hands slowly in a downward direction along his spine. Stop when you reach his sacrum, which is that large, triangular bone at the base of his spine. Bring your hands back to his shoulders and repeat the motion at least two more times.
Step 4
Place one hand on each shoulder, positioning your hands so that your thumb rests on the outer part of the shoulder blade, by the recipient’s arm. Firmly glide your thumbs in toward the recipient’s spine, keeping your thumbs on the fleshy part of the shoulder blade. Stop when your thumbs reach the recipient’s neck. Lift your thumbs and return them to the starting point. Repeat at least two more times.
Step 5
Place your fingers, thumbs or knuckles to apply pressure on the skin. Make small circles on the recipient’s shoulder, back and hips. Work on top of the shoulder, the muscles on the shoulder blade and all around the shoulder blades, taking care to always massage muscle and never apply pressure to bone. Move to the recipient’s back, making small circles along each side of the spine, working from the neck to the sacrum. Return your hands to the recipient’s neck and make small circles down the outer edges of his back, along his sides. Make a third trip down the spine, working the middle section of his back from his neck to his sacrum. Make small circles around the bony prominences of his hip and work the muscles around his hips.
Step 6
Use your whole hand to knead broad sections of his lower back. Work your way up his spine, using your entire hand to massage muscle. Knead the top of his shoulders and his neck, taking care not to pinch the skin. Finish with the same strokes as in the beginning, gliding down the recipient’s spine with the palms of your hands.
Tips and Warnings
- Dim the lights, put on quiet music and light scented candles to create a relaxing atmosphere.
- Do not perform massage if you notice any open sores or blisters.
Things You'll Need
- Oil or lotion
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