How to Know If Massage Is the Right Next Step for Your Low Back Pain

If your low back has been bothering you, you may be wondering whether massage is actually the right next step.

Maybe you’ve been sitting more than usual. Maybe your back feels tight after workouts. Maybe you’ve had the same discomfort coming and going for months. Or maybe you’re experiencing something new and aren’t sure whether massage is appropriate at all.

That’s an important question.

Massage can be a useful part of a care plan for some people with low-back pain, but it isn’t the right answer for every situation. Before booking a session, it’s worth considering what you’re experiencing, what you want help with, and whether anything about your symptoms suggests you should be evaluated by another healthcare professional first.

Here’s how I think about that decision with my clients.

First, ask yourself: What am I actually experiencing?

You don’t need to diagnose yourself. Instead, pay attention to what you can describe to your therapist. Are there traveling patterns the pain has? Does it burn, ache, stab, what describes the feelings best? Where do you feel the discomfort? Is it centered in your low back, more toward one side, around your hip, or into your glutes

Does it feel like muscular tightness, soreness, stiffness, aching, or something different?

When did it begin? Did it appear gradually, or did you notice it after a particular activity, workout, movement, or an older injury occurred? What seems to make it better or worse? These details are useful when you talk with your massage therapist because they help establish what you’re hoping to accomplish during the session.

What is your goal for massage?

This is one of the first things I want to know in every session. When someone tells me, “My low back hurts,” I don’t want to assume I know what they need. Even people with the same surgery or injury patterns can have different pain patterns I’d need to follow.  Maybe your goal is to feel less muscular tension. Maybe sitting at work has become uncomfortable and you want to move more freely or find some other non-surgical pain management solutions. Maybe you’re returning to an activity and want focused work on areas that feel restricted. Maybe you simply want a therapeutic massage that gives you some time to focus on areas that have been bothering you. Your goal helps shape the session. I don’t use exactly the same approach for every person who comes through my door. Your history, current symptoms, preferences, and goals all matter.

Massage may be worth considering when your symptoms seem appropriate for massage

Massage may be one option to consider when you’re dealing with muscular discomfort or tension and don’t have signs that require a full medical evaluation. The World Health Organization includes massage among the non-surgical interventions that may be offered for chronic primary low-back pain. Importantly, the recommendation is conditional and based on very low-certainty evidence. In other words, massage can be part of a broader approach to managing some types of chronic low-back pain. It isn’t a promise of a cure, and it shouldn’t be presented as a replacement for appropriate medical care. That’s an important distinction for you to make, go check out the article!

What if the pain travels into your leg?

Tell your massage therapist! While we can feel a lot that your tissues tell us, we cannot know everything that is happening in your body. People often use the word “sciatica” to describe pain that travels from the low back or buttock into the leg, but not every type of leg pain or burning sensation down the leg has the same cause. There are a plethora of nerve roots that could be triggering a similar reaction.  You don’t need to figure that out yourself before your appointment, you don’t need the full roadmap. Describe what you’re experiencing, including whether you notice pain, tingling, numbness, burning, or weakness while you are experiencing symptoms.

Your massage therapist should stay within their scope of practice rather than diagnosing the cause of those symptoms.

If you have new or worsening neurological symptoms, that is a reason to seek appropriate medical evaluation rather than assuming massage is the answer.

When should you see a healthcare professional first?

There are situations where getting evaluated should come before booking a massage.

Seek appropriate medical care if your back pain is accompanied by concerning symptoms such as significant or new weakness, numbness, changes in bowel or bladder control, severe pain following a significant injury, fever, or other symptoms that are unusual for you or getting worse.

You should also talk with a healthcare professional if you’re concerned that your symptoms may be related to something other than ordinary muscular discomfort.

MedlinePlus provides additional guidance about when back pain warrants medical evaluation.

A massage therapist can be part of your wellness and care team, but we aren’t a substitute for a physician, physical therapist, or other healthcare professional when evaluation or diagnosis is needed.

What if you’ve already seen someone for your back pain?

That’s useful information to bring to your massage appointment. Tell me if you’ve already worked with a physician, physical therapist, chiropractor, or another healthcare professional. Their feedback can be the backbone of a breakthrough for you. Let me know what you’ve tried and how your body responded. If you have information from a healthcare professional about your condition or any restrictions you’ve been given, share that information before your massage. The more I understand about your situation, the better I can determine how to approach the session within the scope of massage therapy.

What I look for during a low-back-pain appointment

I don’t want to simply hear “low back pain” and immediately start working on the low back. I want to understand the person experiencing it. I’ll ask questions about where you’re feeling discomfort, how long you’ve noticed it, what activities affect it, and what you’re hoping to accomplish. I’ll also pay attention to how you’re communicating during the session. Pressure that feels appropriate to one person may be too much for another. A technique that feels useful in one situation may not be the right choice in another.

Your feedback matters.

If something doesn’t feel right, please don’t hesitate to speak up!

If you want more or less pressure, tell me. If your symptoms change, don’t change, tell me.

A therapeutic massage session should be a conversation, not something you simply endure.

You don’t have to know exactly what’s wrong before you call

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people think they need to know what’s causing their pain before they can book a massage. You don’t need to walk into my studio with an anatomical diagnosis. You do need to be able to tell me what you’re experiencing as clearly as you can. From there, we can determine whether massage appears appropriate for your situation and what your goals are for the session and if I don’t think massage is the appropriate next step, I’ll tell you.

So, is massage right for your low-back pain?

It depends. If you’re experiencing muscular discomfort or tension and you’re looking for complementary care that fits your goals, massage may be worth considering. If you’re experiencing new, severe, unexplained, or worsening symptoms, especially symptoms involving significant weakness, numbness, bowel or bladder changes, or serious injury, medical evaluation should take priority. If you’re simply unsure? Just ask.

You can contact Inspire Movements Massage Therapy before booking and talk through whether a massage appointment makes sense for what you’re experiencing.

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.

Jessica’s approach is centered on individualized therapeutic massage and understanding the client’s goals rather than treating every person with the same routine.

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.

Educational 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.