How To Give a Back Massage

Back Massage

Learn How to Massage the Back

Learn how to give a back massage like a pro. If you know how to give a back massage you can relieve pain, aches and stress. A back massage is also a fantastic tool when it comes to a couple's physical intimacy. This "how to" will walk you through the whole back massage session an teach you how to do it like a pro.

Back Massage Techniques Sequence

• The patient lays face down, (prone).
• The therapist will cover the inferior part of the body with a sheet. Uncover only the parts that are massaged. This prevents the body to cool down and offers more comfort to the subject. The practitioner will need to warm up the hands by washing them with warm water if needed, or by rubbing them together.
• Start massaging with a very light effleurage of the entire back from sacrum to neck:
• Perform 10-15 long effleurage strokes for letting your patient become familiar with you as a massage therapist. The first moves don’t bear too much therapeutic value, but they are particularly important as they set up the climate of the following 60 minutes.
• Apply oil or lotion on the back of the patient, making sure the oil is warm, and spread the oil on the whole back.
• Execute two times a more deep bilateral effleurage of the entire back. Make sure you cover every inch of the back.
• Do shingles starting from the lower back toward the neck two times. If the patient is a small person four runs should cover the whole back, otherwise you may need 6 runs. Do each run twice.
• Perform Petrissage, (Milking), on the whole back. The hands need to be synchronized for this stroke.
• Execute a longitudinal alternating thumbs friction along the spine – this is great stroke for people with back aches. The back muscles are very strong, and you need to exercise strong pressure. If you want to protect your thumbs you can use your knuckles instead. Use plenty of oil for this technique.
• Execute one time cross-fiber friction using your thumbs on the whole back: close to spine, median line and the edges of the body. This move is performed from the opposite side of spine. Repeat this on the other side.
• Do the same thing with palm friction but two times. This should be lightly stronger than fingertip friction.
• Perform a peeling two times. The area peeled starts very close to the spine and it ends on the opposite side of the body.
• As a transition you can do the shingles again and then cover the back in preparation for the next body area to massage.

Back Massage Video

Back Massage Tips

Perform alternate thumb compression alongside the spinal column making sure you cover the whole length from coccyx to neck. Do not touch the spine! This helps relaxing and reinforcing the spinal muscles. Most of us, as products of our modern society, will benefit greatly from this procedure.It is an excellent procedure for pregnant women, but if you are not a professionally trained massage therapist stay away from massaging pregnant women. As an alternative, you can do an elbow compression for more muscular bodies, but you have to pay attention to the placement of elbows as you have less control on tiny spaces and you don’t want to press on the spine.