RELIEVING
BACK PAIN
By Deborah Karlan, L.M.T.
B ack pain is the most common
reason for visits to my office for
restorative massage. Symptoms
include muscle aches, shooting or
stabbing pain that radiates down your
leg, and limited flexibility. Jack came to
me with back pain and muscle spasms.
I checked his posture both standing and
laying down. He had an imbalance in
the tension of the right thigh and right
hip flexors, causing forward rotation
of the hips and pain and spasms in
the right leg and low back muscles.
I began treatment with releasing the
front hip flexor, which attaches to the
front side of the spine and in many cases
contributes to back pain. This is done
with a gentle neuromuscular technique
by bending the knee and pushing in an
upward motion on the abdomen above
the crest of the hip while sliding the leg
down. This gentle stretch of hip flexors
allows the tension in the back muscles
to lessen, so that they can be released
with massage.
After I released the tightness and
trigger points in the neck and shoulders.
I was ready to work on the back side of
the problem. If I have done a good job
on the front side, the back is usually
very easy to release. On the back side,
I started with myofascial release, then
iced and stretched to eliminate trigger
points, after which I worked out the
spasms. I finished with good flushing
strokes to release the remaining tension
in the muscles. Jack was as good as new.
For back pain relief, be sure that the hip
flexors are released for a more lasting
recovery. We are requiring masks and are
carefully disinfecting after each patient.
Be safe and pain free.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Deborah Karlan, L.M.T.
has been a licensed therapist in Florida since
1982. Her Wellness From Within office is at
2158 Drew St. in Clearwater. Her information
website is wellnessfromwithinllc.com. For
questions and appointments and to find
harmony and balance with massage, please
call (727) 641-8979. FL
License MA4487, Est. MM27138
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