Back Massage Technique

A good back massage isn't just a luxury. While the primary objective may be to relax muscles and relieve stress, the secondary benefits are more than enough to justify the expense. When done right, a back massage can remove toxins from your body and help with your circulatory system. And, the best thing about it is, you don't need a professional masseuse to do the job.

Hand Effleurage

• Apply some warm massage oil to your hands to start; a tablespoon should be sufficient. Place both hands, palms down, on the lower back of your subject so that your hands are on either side of the spine. Run your whole hand up the spine to the top, applying gentle pressure (this can be modified based on the subject's needs). Once you reach the top, bring the hands across the shoulders and back down along the sides of the back.

Heel Effleurage

• A heel effleurage is performed in tight circles using the heels of your hand to apply more pressure to a certain area. You can start with the lower back again, but do only a small portion of the entire back with each set of circular motions. Slowly work your way around the back, easing the various muscles as you go.

Fingertip Effleurage

• Another technique that's good for working on small areas out from the spine is called the fingertip effleurage. For this one, you'll want to stand on the opposite side of where you're going to be working on your subject. Put one hand on top of the other and, starting at the spine, apply downward force with your fingers and push out to the subject's side. Do this all the way up the spine and then switch sides.

Forearm Effleurage

• Once again, start by standing on the side of the subject. Put both forearms across the lower back. Use the arm closest to the head and, applying pressure, push the forearm all the way up the back of the subject. Repeat this stroke six times and then switch sides.

Targeted Effleurage

• For a targeted effleurage treatment, you'll want to find out where the pain is in the subject's back. Once you've pinpointed the sore spot, put your thumb on the area and press down. Keep pressing, even if you need to support the thumb with your other hand until the pain in the subject's back hits a six or seven on a 10-point scale. Keep consistent pressure until your subject tells you it's a four or five, and then apply more pressure to raise the pain level again. After a second treatment, the pain associated with the sore spot should be considerably lower than before you started.