The effectiveness of therapeutic massage in lumbar spine pain syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: The chronic lumbar spine pain is one of the most common disorders reported by patients at family doctor’s visits. The symptoms associated with the problem usually include limited mobility of the trunk and the dysfunctions of peripheral nerves manifested by numbness, tingling and hyperesthesia. The pain potentiates the muscle tension which, secondarily, evokes general fatigue and the overexploitation of the tissues and, in consequence, the pain becomes even more intensive and unbearable. The treatment of the dysfunction differentiates two methods, namely, the conservative and the surgical one. The latter requires farther treatment in forms of the rehabilitation and physiotherapy which include various kinds of massage, selected physical procedures and physical exercises. Material and methods: The purpose of the study is to present some selected classical and therapeutic forms of massage of the back, arms and legs in women with the pain in the lower part of the spine. The procedures aim at the reduction of the symptoms through restoring the muscle tension and increasing the blood flow in the affected area. In the research eight 45-minute-long massage sessions were performed, each every three days. Results: After the therapy the decrease of pain in the shoulder girdle and lumbar spine area as well as the improvement in the patient’s posture were noticed. After the massage, when the pain was less disturbing the woman took up some exercises for seniors in the fitness centre and nordic walking.Conclusions: The massage is one on the forms of therapy, which can be used in chronic lumbar spine pain. It is often the only possible form of therapy, but can also be a part of more complex physiotherapy combined with other therapeutic treatments.