Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people book a massage. It might come on after lifting the kids, a big day in the garden, or simply build up from long hours in a chair. The good news is that most lower back pain settles with the right mix of movement and hands-on care.

Why lower backs get sore

Most lower back pain is "non-specific", meaning it comes from the muscles, ligaments and joints rather than a serious problem. Common contributors include:

• Lifting, twisting or bending with a heavy load
• Sitting for long periods, at a desk or driving
• Tight hips, hamstrings and gluteal muscles
• Weak core and gluteal muscles
• Stress and poor sleep, which can increase muscle tension

How remedial massage can help

We start with an assessment of how you move, where the pain is, and which muscles are working too hard. Treatment may include:

• Massage of the lower back muscles, including the erector spinae and quadratus lumborum
• Releasing the gluteals, hip flexors and hamstrings, which pull on the pelvis and lower back
• Trigger point therapy for referred pain into the buttock or hip
• Gentle stretching and mobility work
• Advice on staying active, lifting, sitting and sleeping positions
• Dry needling, where appropriate following assessment

Staying gently active usually helps lower back pain recover faster than resting in bed, and massage can make that movement feel more comfortable. Many clients find they move more freely after treatment, though results vary from person to person.

Working with your other practitioners

For ongoing or recurring back pain, we often recommend pairing massage with a strengthening program from a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist. We're happy to work alongside them.

When to see your GP first

See your GP or seek urgent care if back pain follows a fall or accident, or comes with numbness around the groin or buttocks, changes to bladder or bowel control, weakness in your legs, fever, or unexplained weight loss. Also see your GP if the pain is severe at night or isn't improving after a few weeks.

Related treatments: Deep Tissue Massage and Dry Needling.