Massage for back, neck and shoulder pain
Most people who come to me in Barnoldswick are not carrying a sports injury. They have a lower back that aches by Friday, shoulders that sit somewhere near their ears, or a neck that has not turned properly since a bad night's sleep. Everyday tension, built up slowly.
Lower back tension
Long hours sitting, driving, or lifting badly all tend to show up in the same places — the muscles either side of the spine, the glutes, and the hips. When those tighten, the lower back takes the strain.
Deep tissue work through the back, hips and glutes usually gives the most relief, and it is often the hips rather than the back itself that need the attention.
Neck and shoulder tension
Desk work, phones and stress collect in the upper back, shoulders and the base of the neck. It often shows up as a dull ache across the shoulders, restricted movement when turning your head, or tension headaches.
Slower, sustained work through the upper back and shoulders tends to help, and cupping can be useful where the tissue has not responded to massage alone.
What a session involves
We talk first about where it hurts, how long it has been going on, and what you do day to day — that last part usually explains a lot. Then I assess how the area moves before starting any hands-on work.
Treatment is generally deep tissue or sports massage, sometimes with cupping or taping where it helps. Sixty minutes suits most people; ninety if it is both the back and the shoulders. All sessions are charged at the same time-based rates.
If the problem is a specific injury rather than general tension, the sports injury treatment page covers that side of things.
Being straight about what massage does
Massage works on muscle and soft tissue. It can do a great deal for tension, stiffness and restricted movement, and for many people that is the whole problem. It is not a treatment for a medical condition, and I will not pretend otherwise.
If your pain radiates down a limb, follows an accident, comes with numbness or pins and needles, or is getting steadily worse, please see your GP or a physiotherapist first. Message me if you are unsure and I will tell you honestly whether it is worth booking in.
Tell me where it hurts
Send me a message describing the ache and how long it has been going on, and I will tell you what I would suggest.