One well-known trial found that massage beat usual care for chronic low back pain over ten weeks. That is a genuinely interesting result, and a much narrower claim than “massage beats medication”. Here is what the study found, what the wider evidence says, and where massage sensibly fits if your back hurts.
In This Article
Why So Many People Struggle With Back Pain
Low back pain affects millions of people. Massage is a common first stop for a sore back, and one trial has genuinely tested it against ordinary medical care. A 2011 randomized controlled trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine compared two styles of massage with usual care for chronic low back pain. The investigation took place by the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, WA. It involved roughly 400 patients who all had back pain. The majority of the patients were middle aged Caucasian men and women. The researchers found that those that were given a series of treatments were able to work better and were more active than those that were given traditional medical care, such as pain killers, muscle relaxers, or physical therapy.
What the wider evidence says
This research project lasted for 10 weeks. Both massage groups did better than usual care on pain and day-to-day function at the ten-week mark. The important words are “ten-week mark” — and one trial is not the whole picture. Later reviews are far more cautious. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health points to a 2015 review of 25 studies covering 3,096 people that found short-term improvements after massage but rated the study quality low, with the reviewers reporting “very little confidence” that massage is an effective treatment for low-back pain. The American College of Physicians lists massage as an option for acute or subacute low back pain in its 2017 guideline, but not for chronic low back pain.
How Structural and Relaxation Techniques Compare
Structural bodywork involves manipulating specific back pain related muscles and ligaments, while the relaxation approach, known as the Swedish full body technique, involves body-wide relaxation. Even thought the therapeutic treatment lasted over a 10 week period, the research group continued to display improvement 6 months after the study. There was however no significant difference after one year. So just like weight loss in order to keep healthy and keep the weight off, one has to keep up with eating well and exercising often. The same goes for treating back pain with bodywork. One session feels great, but regular therapy may have lasting results.
So should you swap pills for massage?
Not on our say-so. Massage does not correct underlying muscular imbalances, and we would not describe medication as merely masking symptoms — that is a decision for you and your doctor, not a massage studio. What we can say is that an hour of skilled work often makes a sore back feel better for a while, with few risks attached. If that helps you move more and lean on less, it is a good outcome. If your pain is severe, spreading, or coming with numbness or weakness, see a doctor before you book anything.
Try It for Yourself at Happy Head
If low back pain has been holding you back, Happy Head offers affordable deep tissue and therapeutic sessions at convenient San Diego locations. Our therapists work on the tension and soreness that settle into a sore lower back, which for most guests means moving more comfortably for a few days. Whether that changes anything about your medication is a conversation for your doctor. Discover all the benefits of massage and book your next appointment today. Your back will thank you.
Where massage sensibly fits
First, it is low risk. NCCIH describes the risk of harm from massage as low when the practitioner is trained, with serious side effects rare — which counts for something when the alternative carries drowsiness or dependency risks. Second, it is comfortable, and comfort makes moving easier. Movement, not massage, is what most back-pain guidance leans on. Third, it is easy to combine with the stretching and strengthening a clinician recommends. What it will not do is prevent future episodes, so treat it as the pleasant part of the plan rather than the plan itself.
