Do you practice massage? Do you ever have clients with back problems?
Of course you do. We all do.
What many therapists do not realize is that Thai Massage has an amazing repertoire of very effective techniques for back therapy. In this article we want to show you how this work is organized, and walk you through two specific techniques, one for the upper back and one for the lower back.
Why back problems are so common
Back problems are very common nowadays.
People do not move enough. They do not exercise. They spend too many hours sitting every day.
And the back suffers.
That means back complaints will keep walking through your door, and it is worth having a real repertoire ready for them.
The two main categories of back work in Thai Massage
Thai Massage has an amazing array of techniques for the back, and you can categorize them in two main ways.
1. Working on the muscles directly
This is where you should always start.
There are dozens and dozens of ways to do it. You can use a rotation. You can use a rocking movement. You can use direct linear pressure. You can even use your knee to work on the muscles of the back.
2. Stretching
Stretching is very helpful when it comes to releasing tension and increasing range of motion and flexibility in the back.
Again, there are many, many ways to do this. Below we show you two of them.
Technique one: the spinal twist for the upper back
Here is how it works.
Your right leg crosses over the glutes. Your left knee stays a little bit away from the ribs, because you do not want to poke into the ribs.
Now take your partner’s arm, bring it around, and place it on your thigh.
It is important that your partner’s head is facing away from you, to avoid neck strain.
Then reach under the shoulder, interlace your fingers, and reach as low as you can.
Start with a little rocking. If you go straight into the stretch, it can be a little bit too intense.
Once you feel that the back is relaxing and there is no resistance, you can increase the rocking.
Then you can go into the full stretch, just by leaning back.
Keep your arms fairly straight and pull back with your body weight. Do not muscle it. Just lean back.
Do that several times, and do it slowly.
Technique two: the stretch for the lower back
This one works like this.
Lift the leg. One hand goes behind the heel, and the other hand wraps around the foot.
Now face your partner at a 45 degree angle and place your left knee on the glutes. Not on the sacrum. On the glutes, on the gluteus maximus specifically.
Lift the leg, lean back, and keep your arms straight. This is again a pure body weight move.
If you want to intensify it, you can put your knee in the lower back. Make sure it does not end up on the spine, and not on the ribs either. You have to stay in the lower back.
Do not put a lot of pressure on the knee. You do not want to really weigh in on the lower back. You just want to stabilize it. This is very light pressure. Remember that, because otherwise it will be painful and feel oppressive.
One more thing to be aware of. This stretch will also affect the quadriceps muscles. So if someone is very tight there, they will really feel it.
The order matters more than the techniques
Here is the part that gets missed most often.
You should always start out with working on the muscles, and then follow it up with stretching techniques. That is the right way of doing it.
You should never start out with stretching right away.
There is a lot more where this came from
Of course, there are dozens or maybe hundreds of techniques to work on the back in Thai Massage.
But now you have one for the upper back and one for the lower back, and you have the principle that ties them together.
Video Demonstration
Frequently asked questions
Can Thai Massage help with back problems?
Yes. Thai Massage has an amazing array of techniques for the back. There are dozens or maybe hundreds of ways to work on the back within this system.
What are the two main categories of Thai Massage back techniques?
The first is working on the muscles directly, using methods such as rotation, rocking movements, direct linear pressure, or the knee. The second is stretching, which helps release tension and increase range of motion and flexibility in the back.
Should you stretch the back first or work the muscles first?
Always work on the muscles first, then follow up with stretching techniques. You should never start out with stretching right away.
Why are back problems so common?
People do not move enough, they do not exercise, and they spend too many hours sitting every day. The back suffers as a result.
How do you avoid causing pain during a Thai Massage back stretch?
Use your body weight rather than muscling the stretch, keep your arms fairly straight, and lean back slowly. Begin with gentle rocking before going into a full stretch, because going straight into the stretch can be too intense. When you place a knee on the lower back, use very light pressure and only to stabilize, otherwise it will be painful and feel oppressive.
Where should you place your knee during the lower back stretch?
On the glutes, on the gluteus maximus specifically. Not on the sacrum. If you place a knee in the lower back to intensify the stretch, make sure it does not end up on the spine or on the ribs.
Does the lower back stretch affect any other muscles?
Yes. It will also affect the quadriceps muscles, so a client who is very tight there will really feel it.
Why should the client’s head face away during the upper back twist?
To avoid neck strain.
Become a back therapy expert
If you are interested in becoming a true back therapy expert, take a look at Thai Healing Massage Academy’s Thai Back Massage course.
It is a very detailed and professional home study course with 11 hours of the best and most in depth Thai back massage video training.
? Thai Massage Back Therapy Online Training
You can also browse our full library of Thai Massage online training courses here: