How to Give a Back Massage

Introduction

Providing a little touch therapy for stress reduction is a wonderful and therapeutic gift in this era of 14-hour workdays, repetitive stress injuries and weekend warriors. The many benefits of massage include relaxation, stress management, postural balance, increased body awareness and emotional comfort, improved circulation and improved lymphatic drainage for release of toxins.

By: eHow Health Editor

Length: 1:57

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Tips & Warnings:

The many benefits of massage include relaxation, increased body awareness, improved circulation, and improved lymphatic drainage for release of toxins.
Massage oil is typically used to decrease the friction created on the skin and to prevent the pulling of hair. The less oil, the greater the friction and the deeper the pressure.
Incorporate effleurage throughout your massage as a connective stroke to move from one area to another, to soothe an area of localized deep tissue work or to make a transition to another stroke.
Use slow movements for a soothing or calming response and fast movements for a stimulating effect.
Do not put any direct pressure on the spine.
Avoid any broken skin, blisters or areas of possible infection.

Step1

Have the person receiving the massage lie on her belly on a firm, comfortable surface, such as a floor mat or firm bed. Make sure you can reach her whole back without straining your own.

Step2

Stand or kneel by her side. Place one hand on the lower back and one hand between the shoulder blades, over the heart.

Step3

Warm up the back by applying thumb pressure along both sides of the spine simultaneously: Start at the lower back and knead gently with your thumbs up to the neck area. This will also promote relaxation.

Step4

Use a smooth, delicate stroke (called "effleurage") to apply massage oil. In one long stroke, slide your palms down either side of the spine to the pelvis; scoop out around the hips and back up the sides to the shoulders. Maintain contact with the back. Glide your hands over the back to start a new area.

Step5

Continue up both sides of the neck to the base of the head.

Step6

Start at the spine and slide your palms in opposite directions outward to the sides of the back, starting with the lower back area and moving up to the shoulders.

Step7

Knead the fleshy muscular areas at the top of the shoulders, the mid-back area and the buttocks to loosen tight muscles and fascia (the connective tissue).

Step8

Use your thumbs or fingers to apply pressure to areas that feel hard or tight, often called knots.

Step9

Perform clockwise circular friction with your fingertips along the muscles that are close to the spine and around the shoulder blades.

Step10

Rotate the arms gently, one at a time, to loosen the shoulder joints and enhance blood flow.

Comments

lub2064 said

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on 11/12/2008 that is some good info you got there. i have all also got a dvd from www.howtodomassage.com it is very practical i recommend it for any one

prim

Mamameme said

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on 11/11/2008 Very informative and easy to follow.

iamageniuster said

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on 10/26/2008 Awesome article. Great tips. 5 stars!

DoubleThis said

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on 10/22/2008 Actually, he said to massage the OUTSIDE of the spine, which is often recommended. NEVER massage or put direct pressure on the spine.

Faithbee81 said

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on 9/23/2008 The effect is to increase circulation and release the natural endophins in the body. The body and neck is made of many small stuctures of muscle mass, massaging through those fibers releases the lactic acid build up, which are toxins excreted from muscle. Good job on the technique.