Is Massage Good for Back Pain? What You Need to Know

What Causes Back Pain?

Back pain can be debilitating and can at times, seem to come out of knowhere. This is because your back is an incredibly complex area of your body. Comprising of roughly 43 bones/joints, 80 individual muscles and tendons, 88 ligaments, your spinal cord, and almost countless nerves and blood vessels. It doesn't take much for something to go wrong and for pain to ensue.

Without oversimplifying it too much, back pain can be the result of many factors, including:

• Poor posture from prolonged sitting or standing

• Muscle strains from lifting, twisting, or overuse

• Herniated or bulging discs putting pressure on nerves

• Arthritis or degenerative joint disease

• Sports injuries or repetitive motion strain

• Stress and tension creating muscle guarding

For some, the pain starts suddenly after an injury. For others, it creeps in over months or years due to lifestyle and posture habits.

What “Throwing Out Your Back” Really Means

Many patients tell us they’ve “thrown out” their back—often after something as simple as picking up a grocery bag or bending to tie a shoe. In reality, this phrase isn’t a medical diagnosis, but it usually refers to:

• A sudden muscle spasm that locks up the lower back muscles to protect an injured area

• An acute joint restriction in the spine or pelvis that triggers pain and stiffness

• Irritation of a nerve from inflammation or a shifted joint position

The sudden onset of pain is your body’s protective mechanism. Unfortunately, that “protective spasm” can create its own pain cycle, making it hard to move normally. Medical massage can help calm the spasm, restore movement, and break the cycle before it becomes chronic.

The Kinetic Chain and Back Pain

Your body’s joints, muscles, and fascia are all connected through a kinetic chain. If one link in the chain is weak, tight, or misaligned, it can create compensations elsewhere—often leading to back pain.

Examples:

• Tight hamstrings tilt your pelvis backward, increasing strain on your lower back.

• Weak glutes fail to stabilize your hips, causing your lower back muscles to overwork.

• Limited ankle mobility changes how you walk, subtly twisting the pelvis and affecting spinal alignment.

This is why treating just the sore spot rarely solves the problem. Without addressing contributing areas in the chain, pain often returns.

Conventional Treatments for Back Pain

Standard medical care for back pain may include:

• Pain relievers or anti-inflammatories

• Muscle relaxants

• Physical therapy

• Cortisone injections

• Surgery in severe cases

The Limitation: Many of these focus on symptom suppression rather than addressing the soft tissue imbalances or movement dysfunctions causing the pain. Relief is often temporary, especially if you go back to the same movement patterns that caused the problem.

What Kind of Massage Is Best for Back Pain?

While relaxation massages can feel good in the moment, medical massage is often the best choice for lasting results.

At True Health Centers in Westminster, CO, our medical massage:

• Targets both the area of pain and related kinetic chain imbalances

• Uses techniques such as myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and deep tissue work

• Coordinates with chiropractic and physical therapy when needed for structural correction

• Focuses on restoring normal movement, not just reducing discomfort

How Medical Massage Helps Back Pain

Benefits include:

• Releasing chronic muscle tension that pulls on the spine

• Breaking up adhesions and scar tissue

• Improving blood flow for faster healing

• Restoring mobility to the hips, pelvis, and spine

• Lowering stress levels, which can directly reduce pain perception

Why We Combine Massage with Other Therapies

For many back pain cases, the fastest and most lasting results come from integrated care because the best care is not only the quickest, but the most complete:

• Massage therapy addresses soft tissue tightness and adhesions.

• Chiropractic care restores spinal alignment and breaks the nervous system's control over muscle spasms.

• Dry needling targets deep trigger points that massage alone may not reach.

• Naturopathic medicine supports inflammation control from the inside out.

This whole-body approach means you’re not just getting short-term relief—you’re correcting the root cause. When back pain inhibits your quality of life and ability to work, you need a solution that will not only work fast, but will prevent future issues.

Is Massage Right for Your Back Pain?

If you’ve been relying on medications or “waiting it out,” it might be time to try a different approach. Medical massage at True Health Centers isn’t just about easing today’s pain—it’s about making sure your back stays healthy and functional for the long run.

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