How To Target Back Problems In Sports Massage Video

Targeting back problems is a key concept in massage. Get expert tips and advice on massage and other treatments in this video.

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Place a pillow under legs
Apply pressure to the lower back
Ask about comfort

About this Author

Malu works for Retreat Massage Therapy as a massage therapist. She is well versed in techniques that are particularly helpful for athletes.

MALU LUJAN: Okay, so we are going to talk about targeting some back problems and massaging the back. And one of the most important things you want to do when somebody is laying on their stomach, you want to take the pressure off of their lower back. And the way to do that is to put a bolster under their ankles. Some people don't like this but most people really do prefer it, and you can actually use a bolster that is bigger than this if you want to, just something to bring their legs up a little bit. The most common areas that people get tension and pain and sometimes range of motion challenges are the muscles that run along the length of the spine, the muscles that run along the tops of the shoulders and also you have muscles that run from your spine to the edge of your scapula. This right here is your scapula. These two things here are great big bones that are your shoulder blades. And areas in between the spine and the shoulder blade, this area here tends to get very tense on just about anybody doing office work, doing bicycling, doing running and swimmers--especially swimmers. The other area of the spine that often needs attention is the low back. This is the lumbar area where my fingertips are and that is a good area to work on. And then the sacrum which is this little triangular area right here that is the base of your spine on either side of your butt, and so this area and here gets pretty tense and of course the glute, the buttock muscles. So that is targeting areas of the back that are good to work on, and your person that you are working on will tell you which parts they want you to work on the most.

How to Target Back Problems in Sports Massage Video

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