Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Massage Chairs Provide Low Back Pain Relief From Arthritis

Massage Chairs Provide Low Back Pain Relief From Arthritis

by James Knolan

Many of us just casually hear about arthritis as this kind of the disease that is in the mainstream vocabulary. However, arthritis affects millions of people every year. The effects of arthritis can vary tremendously between individuals. However one thing is common which is the degree of pain prevalent in the lower back. Arthritis in the lower back is very difficult because it affects a person's mobility. Arthritis is a severe form of stiffness in the muscles and joints. Treatments for arthritis may include surgery or noninvasive measures such as stretching exercise, massage chair therapy, and physical therapy.

Generally, arthritis is thought to only affect the old generation. However, as we age, we may become more susceptible to arthritis. If you are overweight or if you do heavy lifting, then you may be a candidate for arthritis of the lower back. If you have suffered a previous injury in the lower back, then you are also more susceptible.

What is arthritis of the lumbar spine? The cervical disc that make up the spinal column are connected with joints. Arthritis makes the movement of the joint stiff and with increased stiffness comes pain. The muscle and soft tissues become tends and are hard to bend. Some cases of lumbar spine arthritis have been reported for spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis and disc degeneration.

Sometimes as lumbar arthritis progresses it can result in bone spurs. As the joints are moved this can inflamed many of the soft tissues around these areas. As the joints stiffen and they can cause nerves attached to them to become pinched. This pinching phenomenon is called spinal stenosis. This condition can occur with arthritis in the lower lumbar spine.

Treatments for arthritis of the lumbar spine depend on the severity and persons condition. Because of the severe stiffness of muscles and joints the initial pain associated with physical therapy can be a hurdle. The stiffness needs to be counteracted with flexing of the soft tissues. A bending, kneading, or stretching is required to restore flexibility in the soft tissues areas.

Most treatments are geared towards natural therapies. Surgery is usually reserved if no other alternatives exist. Unfortunately, with surgery comes scar tissue which causes further stiffness in the region. Natural methods are geared towards restoring the original flexibility of the soft tissues. One natural method used throughout time is massage therapy. Massage therapy is used to stretch out the muscles to assist with flexibility.

Doctors normally start with more natural methods such as physical therapy, chiropractic are and massage therapy. The doctor wants to give the body a chance to heal itself naturally and to build up the muscles. Physical therapy, chiropractic care and massage therapy are first recommended.

These three therapies are used to help to restore flexibility of the soft tissues. The first step is to get the joints moving and more elastic. They have become more rigid, thus losing their flexibility. Stimulating these areas can be effectively done with massage chair therapy.

Many doctors use massage chairs to assist their patients. These doctors set their patients up on specific massage routines depending on their condition. The doctor may also include stretching and warming of specific areas of the body to assist recovery.

Of all the symptoms of lumbar spine arthritis, low back pain can be the most difficult to manage and live with. The constant pain and stiffness can be the cause of much stress and can seriously alter a persons way of life. It is important to recognize symptoms and begin treatment early to ensure that the progression of the disease is slowed down. This is where massage chairs can excel and get you to a more normal routine.

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