Why does your back hurt?
The most common causes of back pain are prolonged poor posture (especially in front of the computer), stress that contracts the muscles, lack of exercise and sudden movements. The good news: most mechanical back pain improves significantly with therapeutic massage.
Which massage to choose
For an acute contracture or a localised knot, therapeutic massage is the first choice.
For chronic tension and general stiffness, deep tissue massage works the deep muscle layers.
If the pain comes with a lot of stress, combining relaxation massage with deep tissue gives excellent results.
For chronic lower back pain, deep massage on the lumbar area along with guided stretching is usually very effective.
When to see a doctor
Massage does not replace medical diagnosis. If the pain is very intense, radiates to the legs or arms, is accompanied by tingling, weakness or loss of bladder control, or appears after an accident, see your doctor first. For everything else, a good therapeutic massage is one of the most effective tools.
Prevention in daily life
In addition to massage, adopt habits that care for your back: active breaks every hour, a desk at the right height, regular exercise that strengthens your core and good sleep hygiene. Massage relieves and unblocks; good habits keep the pain from coming back.