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Self Massage - Backs Massaging your own back is tricky but with a little ingenuity a satisfactory job can be done. Some of the strokes are not possible, for example flushing, though what can be done is described below. However there are a number of easy and effective stretches to try that will relieve tired muscles as well as increasing suppleness. The back muscles The back bone is a series of joints very close together, each bone bound tightly to the next by ligaments that only allow distinct ranges of movement. Specific muscles starting from each joint pass to another skipping several vertebrae, they are attached to the sides of each vertebra - on the transverse processes - that you can feel when you run your fingers up either side of your spine. These are specific spinal muscles. There are also a number of large muscles involved in movement of the torso and limbs that begin at the base and sides of the back that will benefit from any massage that you can do. The purpose Massaging your back increases the blood flow, cleansing toxins and relaxes muscles. Our posture is affected by the sedentary life we lead, the lack of constant motion that it is designed for and the emotional tension we suffer from bearing responsibilities. If we run when our body is stiffened by these circumstances, we are putting an increased load on muscles that are already overburdened by tension, and we are more likely to suffer injury. For self massage This description covers what you can do yourself, it is not comprehensive because of the logistical difficulty of reaching to massage your own back. | ||
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CATHERINE HOLLAND Tel: 0701 7415310 Email: catherine@catherineholland.co.uk | |
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