Low back pain: how massage and acupuncture can help

Common causes

• Prolonged sitting — hip flexors shorten, glutes switch off, the low back takes the strain
• A lifting strain — one awkward lift, then days of guarding and spasm
• Weakness and deconditioning — the supporting muscles stop doing their share
• Old injuries that flare up with stress, cold weather or overuse
• Stiffness in the hips and mid-back — the low back compensates for neighbours that do not move

How treatment works on it

• RMT massage & Tuina — releasing the low back, glutes and hip muscles, including deep work along the spine and sacrum
• Acupuncture — local and distal points to calm pain and spasm; can be combined with gentle electrical stimulation (TENS-style) when appropriate
• Cupping & heat — cupping and warm salt packs to ease stubborn, cold, stiff backs
• Movement advice — simple things to do (and stop doing) between visits so progress holds

What you can do at home

• Keep moving — short, frequent walks usually beat bed rest; avoid sitting longer than 30–45 minutes at a stretch
• Heat for stiffness and spasm — 15–20 minutes at a time; a cold pack can suit a fresh strain in the first day or two
• Lift with your legs — load close to your body, no twisting under load
• Sleep support — a pillow under the knees (on your back) or between the knees (on your side)
• Note what helps — tell me at your visit; it sharpens the treatment plan

When to see a doctor first

Seek medical care promptly if back pain comes with changes in bladder or bowel control, numbness around the saddle area, weakness in a leg that is getting worse, fever, or if it follows a serious fall or accident. Pain that never eases, even lying down at night, also deserves a medical workup first.

This page is general information about how massage therapy and acupuncture may help — not a diagnosis or a promise of outcome. At your first visit I assess your condition before treating; if treatment is not improving things, I will say so honestly and suggest the next step. Related reading: RMT massage · acupuncture · sciatica & leg pain.

Studio 60 min: massage $130 (HST incl.) · acupuncture $120. Mobile 90 min: massage $210 · acupuncture $200. Official receipts provided. Full details in the price guide.