Many people think they need to know it all when the book their appointment, but that’s hardly the case. Sure, it could help if you know some details but we don’t need a full diagnosis to work on pre-existing injuries. If you’re booking a massage because your lower back has been bothering you, you may think the important part is simply telling your massage therapist, “my back hurts.”

It certainly helps! However, there is a lot more information you can share that can make your session more beneficial.

Where the discomfort is located, when it started, what makes it better or worse, whether it travels into your leg, and how it affects your everyday movement can all help your massage therapist understand what you’re experiencing and tailor the session to your goals.

At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy in Colorado Springs, sessions are customized around the individual rather than following the exact same routine for everyone.

Here are seven things I recommend telling your massage therapist before or during a session for low-back discomfort.

1. Tell them exactly where you feel the discomfort

“Low back pain” can mean different things to different people.

Is it:

• Directly over the lower spine?
• More on one side?
• Around the top of the hip?
• Into the glutes?
• Higher up near the waist?
• Moving from the low back toward the hip or leg?

You don’t need to know the anatomical name for what you’re feeling. Just be as specific as you can about where you notice it.

You can even use your hand to show your therapist the area.

That information gives your therapist a much better starting point than simply saying, “My back hurts.”

2. Tell them when it started

A new problem after a workout is different from discomfort you’ve been experiencing for several months.

Tell your therapist:

• When you first noticed it
• Whether there was a specific event that preceded it
• Whether it has been getting better, worse, or staying about the same
• Whether you’ve experienced the same problem before

For example:

“My back started bothering me three weeks ago after I increased my workouts.”

is much more useful information than:

“My back has been hurting.”

You don’t need to diagnose the cause yourself. You’re giving your therapist information that can help determine whether massage is appropriate and how the session should be approached.

3. Explain what movements or activities affect it

Think about your normal day.

Does the discomfort change when you:

• Sit at your desk?
• Stand for a long time?
• Walk?
• Bend forward?
• Lift something?
• Get out of a chair?
• Exercise?
• Sleep?
• Drive?

This is especially helpful if your goal is not simply to feel more relaxed after a massage, but to move more comfortably during your normal activities.

For example, a person whose back feels tight after sitting at a desk all day may have different treatment goals from someone whose discomfort began after lifting or athletic activity.

4. Tell your therapist if symptoms travel into your leg

This one is particularly important.

If you experience pain, tingling, numbness, burning, or weakness that travels from your back into your hip or leg, tell your massage therapist.

People often use the word “sciatica” to describe many different types of leg symptoms. Your massage therapist should not be diagnosing the cause of those symptoms, but knowing what you’re experiencing helps determine whether massage is appropriate and whether you may need evaluation from another healthcare professional.

If you’re experiencing new or worsening neurological symptoms, don’t assume that massage is the answer.

5. Tell them what you’ve already tried

Have you already seen a physician, physical therapist, chiropractor, or other healthcare professional?

Have you tried:

• Exercise?
• Stretching?
• Heat or ice?
• Medication?
• Physical therapy?
• Massage?
• Changing your workstation?
• Taking a break from a particular activity?

Tell your therapist what you’ve tried and how your body responded. They are trained providers for a reason.

This can help prevent your session from simply repeating an approach that hasn’t been useful for you.

It also gives you an opportunity to tell your therapist what you already know about your symptoms.

6. Tell them what you actually want from the session

This may be the most overlooked part of a massage appointment.

“Help my back” is a goal, but it can mean many things.

Maybe you want to:

• Move more comfortably
• Reduce the feeling of muscular tightness
• Make sitting through your workday easier
• Get back to exercising
• Feel less restricted when bending or turning
• Address tension that you feel around your hips and back
• Simply have some focused therapeutic work done after a demanding week

Your therapist can work with you much more effectively when you explain what you want to be different when you leave the table.

At Inspire Movements, I build sessions around the individual person’s needs and goals rather than using exactly the same routine for every client.

7. Tell your therapist what feels good—and what doesn’t

You don’t have to “tough out” a massage to make it effective.

Tell your therapist if:

• The pressure is too much
• A technique feels uncomfortable
• You feel sharp rather than therapeutic discomfort
• You want more or less pressure
• You are uncomfortable in a particular position
• An area feels particularly sensitive

Communication is part of a good massage session.

The goal isn’t to see how much pressure you can tolerate. The goal is to have a productive session that fits your body and your goals.

What if you don’t know what’s causing your low-back pain?

That’s okay.

You don’t need to walk into a massage appointment with a diagnosis.

Your job as the client is to describe what you’re experiencing as accurately as you can. Your massage therapist can stay within their scope of practice and determine whether the situation appears appropriate for massage or whether you should seek evaluation elsewhere.

For chronic primary low-back pain, the World Health Organization includes massage among interventions that may be offered as part of care, but it also notes that the evidence is of very low certainty and that massage should be considered within a broader approach to managing chronic low-back pain rather than as an isolated solution. [WHO guideline on chronic primary low-back pain]

That’s an important distinction.

Massage may be one part of someone’s care. It isn’t a diagnosis, and it isn’t a replacement for medical care when medical evaluation is needed.

When should you talk to a healthcare professional instead?

Massage isn’t appropriate for every type of back pain.

Seek appropriate medical evaluation for concerning symptoms such as new weakness, significant numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, severe pain after significant trauma, fever associated with back pain, or other symptoms that are unusual for you or rapidly worsening.

MedlinePlus recommends contacting a healthcare professional for back pain associated with symptoms such as weakness or numbness, bowel or bladder changes, severe pain, or other concerning changes. [MedlinePlus: Back pain—when you see the doctor]

If you’re unsure whether massage is appropriate for what you’re experiencing, it’s completely reasonable to ask before booking.

A simple way to prepare for your appointment

Before your massage, think through these seven questions:

Where does it hurt?

When did it start?

What makes it better or worse?

Does it travel anywhere?

What have you already tried?

What do you want to accomplish?

What pressure or techniques do you prefer?

You don’t need perfect answers.

Even a few details can help your massage therapist understand what you’re hoping to accomplish.

The goal isn’t simply to work on your back

When someone comes to me with low-back discomfort, I don’t want to think of the session as simply “massaging the painful spot.”

I want to understand what the person is experiencing, what activities are being affected, and what they want to be able to do more comfortably.

Sometimes that means focusing on the low back. Sometimes other areas are relevant to the person’s movement or treatment goals.

The important part is starting with the person—not just the symptom.

If you’re in Colorado Springs and considering therapeutic massage for low-back discomfort, you can learn more about my approach to low-back pain therapy or contact Inspire Movements before booking if you’re unsure whether massage is appropriate for your situation.

About Jessica Deardorff, LMT

Jessica Deardorff is the owner of Inspire Movements Massage Therapy in Colorado Springs and has been practicing massage therapy since 2016. Her areas of focus include low-back pain, sciatica support, headaches and migraines, mobility-focused massage, therapeutic Ashiatsu, and cupping.

[Learn more about Jessica’s training, credentials, and approach.]

Sources & further reading

• World Health Organization. WHO guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain in adults in primary and community care settings.
• MedlinePlus. Back pain — when you see the doctor.
• MedlinePlus. Low back pain — chronic.

Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not a diagnosis or substitute for medical care. Massage therapy may not be appropriate for every condition. If you have concerning, severe, new, or worsening symptoms, seek evaluation from an appropriate healthcare professional.