Does Massage Work?

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olds

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,114
776
126
I have 3 partially collapsed discs and arthritis in my lower back. My muscles are in spasm and I am stove up.

If massage works, what type of massage should I be looking for?
The happy ending is a given.
 
NuclearNed

NuclearNed

Raconteur
May 18, 2001
7,875
372
126
My wife has really bad back problems... massage has helped her a lot, although I'm not sure what type he had. She was going to a physical therapist, not just some massage parlor. Generally speaking, I think it was just some sort of deep tissue massage.

What seemed to help her the most was some sort of shock therapy the therapist offered. They attached contact pads to her problem areas and sent low voltages into the muscles. According to her, it helped almost instantly.
 
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bignateyk

Lifer
Apr 22, 2002
11,288
7
0
Depends what kind of massage. Friction massaging works wonders on tendinitis. Those "relaxation" swedish massages don't do anything.

But yeah, massages like deep tissue, friction, etc... work great. They can increase blood flow to speed recovery and they can break down junk that builds up around inflamed tissue.
 
manimal

manimal

Lifer
Mar 30, 2007
13,559
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0
Try some alexander technique with some chiropractic before you go under the knife..
 
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bignateyk

Lifer
Apr 22, 2002
11,288
7
0
Electric Amish said:
I would recommend an inversion table.
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I get horrific lower back spasms if I take the weight off my spine for some reason. Those tables, and also if I hang from a pullup bar and relax all my muscles.

It feels amazing while I am doing it, but the second I bend over after I stop I collapse to the floor in agony.
 
E

Electric Amish

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
23,578
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0
bignateyk said:
I get horrific lower back spasms if I take the weight off my spine for some reason. Those tables, and also if I hang from a pullup bar and relax all my muscles.

It feels amazing while I am doing it, but the second I bend over after I stop I collapse to the floor in agony.
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That sucks!
 
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nanette1985

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2005
4,209
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I used to have bad back problems and i also have rheumatoid arthritis. Yoga did what surgery, massage, chiropractic, pain killers, street drugs, exercise, shock treatment, heat/ice, past life regression, and god knows what else didn't do.

Works for me, anyway. Best to you - pain's a bitch.
 
edro

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
Massage is mainly for muscle pain, not bone problems.

Massage increases blood flow, which can accelerate healing, so it definitely works for numerous ailments.
 
Squisher

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
I used to work with an industrial electrician that taught massage therapy at a local college. The guy could do wonders at relieving pain. While he was massaging it wasn't exactly pleasurable but afterward you often got the relief you were looking for. He also taught me a lot about relieving my own aches and pains by stretching the opposite muscle from the pain. I'd often get pains right between my shoulder blades and I could fix it by stretching the muscles across my chest.
 
gsellis

gsellis

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2003
6,061
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My wife has TMJ. If I massage the jawline, neck and shoulders, it gives her relief until the pain killer starts working. So temporary, but probably not long term would be my gut feel.
 
E

Electric Amish

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
23,578
1
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bignateyk said:
Do you completely relax your muscles while you are inverted? Or do you keep a little bit of tension in your abs/back the whole time?
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I relax as much as possible. I feel like I have to keep some tension in my feet to keep them in the braces, but I might just be chicken.

I have also stayed on an angle as well and not gone 100% vertical.
 
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