Back massage can be dangerous for health

Back massage is usually done to relieve soreness and fatigue after a day of activities. Usually, parents will order a child or someone with a weight that is lighter than him to step on his back. However, this method has a health hazard.

Why can this method be harmful to health? Check out the following explanation.

The dangers of back massage if done carelessly

Performing a massage on your back if done properly by an expert can indeed have a tremendous relaxing effect on the body. However, if this method is done carelessly without paying attention to the correct technique, it will be dangerous for health.

Greg Kawchuk, Ph.D, professor of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta, Canada, said that massage that is done by stepping on the back is not safe to do.

If someone who has heavier body mass steps on your back, it is creating an excess of pressure that is much higher than the strength of the ligaments and knuckles on your spine. This actually increases a person's risk of spinal cord injury.

Even in some more serious cases, doing a back massage without paying attention to the correct method will cause a person to experience a fracture and a pinched nerve.

In line with Kawchuk, according to a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SpKFR) Arif Soemarjono, he said that an expert should do the stepping on the back. Quoted from the Kompas page, if the back massage is carried out carelessly without paying attention to the correct method, it can cause a person to experience a significant shift in the spine.

The origin of shiatsu massage, a Japanese foot massage therapy

Back massage is actually a shiatsu massage therapy from Japan that has been practiced for centuries by monks.

The practice of shiatsu massage does look like a normal back-stepping motion. But if this therapy is done by a certified therapist, massage will not be painful and guaranteed safety and comfort. This is because the therapist is trained to control foot pressure to suit the needs of consumers.

How to do a correct back massage?

Back massage performed by shiatsu therapists, is done by walking slowly up and down the back of the consumer. The legs are placed carefully on both sides of the spine. This leg is responsible for pushing and pulling the muscles away from the tension so that the muscles can relax more.

Before starting the massage, the therapist will usually apply massage oil to the consumer's back to make it easier to massage. During the session, the therapist will hold an iron handle that is above his head so that he can walk steadily.

One thing to watch out for is not to use massage as a substitute for medical treatment. The reason is, there are some cases that cannot be resolved by means of massage or massage, for example, joint pain, injury, or fracture. If this happens, you should immediately check with a doctor to find out for sure which part of the body or joint is problematic.