There really is an awareness week for everything these days but we think Back Care Awareness Week deserves some special attention.

It is estimated by NICE, (the government body that works with GP’s) that 60% of the UK adult population or 33.8 million people, can expect to have lower back pain at some point in their adult life. That’s a huge number and that is just lower back pain! 

The reality is that most adults will suffer from back pain at some point. Perhaps not surprisingly back pain accounts for 12 million working days lost every year!

Limited mobility and lower mood

It isn’t just about working days lost or the cost to the economy.  Anyone who has experienced back pain will be able to tell you just how debilitating it is.  Back pain can range from a persistent ache to excruciating shooting pains that can travel out from the spine down the arms and legs or into the head resulting in severe headaches.

Causes of Back Pain

There are many ailments that result in back pain, some more serious than others.  Pain can result from structural issues with the spine itself such as slipped discs. It is possible to get a cyst on the spinal tissue or even a tumour.  You should never just ignore back pain and hope that it will just go away.  Always get your back pain checked out by a Doctor.

The most common cause – muscle tension

Having said that the most common cause of back pain is muscular. We spend a lot of our time sitting, driving or just having poor posture. This puts pressure on the muscles of the back, shoulders, neck and hips.  These muscle groups are interrelated so tension in one area can transfer to another.

Back pain often starts as a nagging ache in your shoulder or lower back.  Before long you will notice that you have a have a stiff neck or back and possibly the occasional shooting pain down your arm or leg.

This is usually when people start to get worried.  A trip to the Doctor is a good idea but more often than not the whole situation can be resolved by a course of massage.

Muscle tension can be very invidious.  You persevere, trying to get on with daily tasks. All the while the tense muscles are trapping lactic acid and other toxins in the muscle fibres.  If the tension isn’t released, then the toxins build up and the tension spreads. 

Roger’s story

Roger came to us recently with severe pain in his shoulders.  The pain was restricting the movement in his arms. He couldn’t lift his left arm above shoulder height. The pain was affecting his sleep. He was waking in the night in pain and then unable to get comfortable enough to fall asleep again. He is a healthy guy with no other medical conditions or even aches and pains, so he was completely thrown about his shoulder pain. He had been living with it for some time when his shoulders finally seized and the pain became unbearable.

This is the point at which Roger found Phoenix.  He came along for a deep tissue massage and explained his issues to the therapist.  The therapist worked on Roger’s upper back, shoulders, neck and arms to release the muscle tension. 

The group of muscles in the front of the chest (pectorals) also needed treating to get them to relax back into normal position.  If you only treat one muscle group the related muscles will simply stretch further – it’s all about balance

Stretches and homework

Muscle tension isn’t always a quick fix. Roger needed several massage sessions and we gave him stretches to do at home in between his massages.  After only 3 weeks Roger noticed a really positive change to his pain and range of movement so it didn’t take long to correct the imbalance.

Now Roger comes along once a quarter for a maintenance treatment just to make sure his muscles are still clean, balanced and working to an optimal level

In Roger’s own words

“The massage was excellent, as was the conversation. Phoenix is an excellent service, with brilliant and talented staff. I would recommend it to anyone” 

How massage can help with back pain?

A massage can help by warming, lengthening and draining muscle tissue.  It is deeply cleansing. It’s like wringing out your muscles, flushing out the waste and filling the tissue with fresh blood, nutrients and lymphatic fluid.

Our therapists can assess your posture and identify which muscle groups are holding tension.  This is not always a relaxing experience. Tense muscle can be painful but the benefits outweigh the discomfort – believe me!

A regular massage can keep back pain at bay – so what are you waiting for?

Here’s what some of our clients have said

“Brilliant massage. Felt like I had so much more space between my head and shoulders after, as my shoulders relaxed and dropped, and it was so relaxing too!”  Rebecca

“Ali does the best deep tissue massage I have ever had. I am always full of knots, but I come out feeling as light as air.  I also love that whilst I am getting the benefit of her hands of steel, I am giving a little back by supporting the wider work done by Phoenix” Eve

“My back feels so much better” Kate

To find out more about the treatments that we offer click here Book online or call us on 0113 234 0818

Phoenix Health & Wellbeing is a charitable social enterprise. We use the proceeds of your Leeds massage treatment to subsidise those who have chronic health issues and low incomes and would not otherwise be able to access our therapies. Roughly £4 to every £10 spent with us will go to help others. For more information about our work click here

Opening times:

Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 20:00

Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00

Sunday closed.