Can A DIY Massage Help Alleviate Your Back Pain?
To overcome back pain, many people are practicing do-it-yourself massages at home. It might not sound like a good idea, but it is sometimes possible to alleviate the pain you are experiencing. If you are planning to try a DIY back massage, here is what you need to know:
Do You Need Any Special Tools?
Obviously, reaching the affected area with your hands will be extremely challenging. The use of aids can help make the job easier. One possible solution is to use a handheld massager. The massager can reach those areas you cannot and provide decent stimulation to the area.
If you are buying a handheld massager, it is important to understand that they come in differing power levels. Look for one that can address your specific level of pain. For instance, if you have minor pain, a mini-massager could do the trick.
In addition to a handheld massager, you could opt for a massage chair or insert that you can use in your chair. Some chairs and inserts have built-in heat that can be useful in alleviating the pain.
If you do not want to invest in a massage, a less expensive option is a tennis ball. The tennis ball can be placed between you and the floor or wall. You must move your body slowly while lying against the ball to get relief. Press hard to stimulate a massage, but not hard enough that the pain is intensified.
Can Ice and Heat Therapy Be Used with the Massager?
Ice and heat therapy are commonly used by chiropractors to treat back pain. The cold therapy helps to prevent and reduce inflammation that could be causing the back pain. Heat therapy helps to encourage healing by improving the blood circulation throughout your back.
It is important that you start with cold therapy for the first few days. Heat therapy would aggravate a fresh injury of the back. Use the cold therapy throughout the day. A good time to use it is following a back massage.
When you switch to heat therapy, you can use it prior to using the massager to increase the relief you get from the massage. You can also use the heat therapy throughout the day as you experience pain for relief.
In some instances, the pain is alleviated through DIY massages and heat and cold therapy. If the problems persist though, you need to schedule an examination with a doctor like Allegheny Brain And Spine Surgeons.
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