Shiatsu for back pain relief Cheltenham
Back pain can be a fearful ailment to live with if you don’t know what’s causing it, and how to resolve it.
​​You may have received a diagnosis from your doctors regarding your spinal issues. However, maintaining strong and flexible muscles can help alleviate the ongoing pain you manage. If you haven't been diagnosed and experience or aches without knowing the cause or how to address it, let me share some insights into what can be happening, potential solutions, and how Shiatsu can relieve your back pain.
To sit and stand properly, our front and back muscles need to be in good condition support our spines. Many issues arise from muscles that are weak, overstretched, or tight.
Our lifestyles contribute to this, especially when days are spent sitting at a desk or in a car, followed by sudden bursts of physical activity over the weekend, which can easily to minor injuries if the muscles aren't adequately warmed up. Strong abdominal muscles play a crucial in supporting the mid and lower spine. These muscles, located over the belly and connecting to the spine, assist the back muscles when they are kept strong. This is why focusing on your core is important!
If you feel a twinge in your mid to lower back while sitting at your computer, try pulling in your stomach muscles to see if the discomfort lessens. Providing your back with additional support can reduce its tendency to ache! Lower back issues often occur in the lumbar region, where the strong weight-bearing vertebrae are located, just below the rib cage and above the sacrum.
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Shiatsu vs. Massage for Back Pain Relief – Which is Right for You?
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Massage Therapy: Works mainly on soft tissue with flowing strokes, often using oils.
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Shiatsu Therapy: Combines gentle pressure, stretching, and joint rotations to rebalance the body’s energy and release deeper tension.
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Back Pain Focus: Shiatsu often addresses root causes—like posture, energy flow, and muscle imbalances—not just the sore spot.
If you’ve tried massage and still have back discomfort, Shiatsu should be your next step. Book with Shiatsu Bodyworks Cheltenham to experience a tailored, whole-body approach to back pain relief.
Can shiatsu help relieve sciatica? Read blog here
How shiatsu therapy will relieve your back pain
The lumbar vertebrae are surrounded by a complex network of muscles, including the Quadratus Lumborum at the back, which can restrict side bending when tight, and the Abdominals in the front, along with the Hip Flexors that extend through the pelvis to the thighs.
The Psoas, a robust muscle deep within the pelvis and groin, can become tight and shortened due to prolonged periods of sitting driving. When one muscle is tight or shortened, its opposing muscle tends to be overstretched and potentially weakened. For instance, a tight Psoas can strain the lower back. Weak muscles can further increase strain on back muscles, leading to tighter muscles reduced flexibility.
Muscles function in pairs with opposing actions, so if one side is stronger or tighter, issues on the other side need addressing as well. In Chinese Medicine, the temperature of muscles is crucial; if muscles are not in good condition, the flow of Qi can be hindered, resulting in cold, flat muscles and restricted blood flow. This manifests as dull or strain sensations when moving. While Western medicine effectively addresses inflammatory conditions, many issues are often 'cold' in nature, arising from overworked or sedentary muscles. These cold conditions require warmth, and products like Deep Heat, along with gentle massage, to help revive the muscles. A weak area in the muscles is a point of vulnerability and this can just go when you do one physical activity to aggravate it.
If you experience persistent, dull aches accompanied by occasional sharp pains, avoid deep or heavy massages. Instead, your muscles need warmth and gentle touch to reset and promote healthy blood flow, allowing Chi to rejuvenate the tissues.
Shiatsu massage therapy offers this gentle and supportive touch, treating body as a whole and addressing the and right sides differently. By applying warmth and pressing specific acupoints, tight muscle fibers can, blood flow can be restored, and healing can begin.
Shiatsu is a very beneficial for relieving chronic back pain.
Andrea at Shiatsu bodyworks Cheltenham recommends for chronic back pain relief:
If you have regular lower back ache and you get it sat at your desk, out riding a bike, walking the dog, or you run around in T shirt what ever the weather you'll be suffering with too much cold in your back.
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How to make a Kidney warmer- Haramaki:
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Get a T shirt that is too tight on you, and cut it across below the armpits as in the photo
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Wear this under your clothes, even if you just wear a T shirt, make sure it comes up as far as your bottom 3 ribs, and down to your hips.
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This will give your kidneys that extra bit of warmth and will be one factor in alleviating dull aching back pains.
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You'll also need to think about appropriate exercises to strengthen, supplements and therapy to assess and alleviate your symptoms.
