In short
Lower back pain often comes from tight hips, glutes and the muscles around the spine rather than the back alone. Sports massage eases that tension, restores movement and can bring real relief, and it works best alongside gentle movement. Anything severe or persistent should be checked by your GP first.
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people come to see me, and one of the most misunderstood. The spot that hurts is often not the real source of the problem.
Why the lower back gets sore
The lower back rarely acts alone. Tightness and weakness elsewhere pull it out of its comfortable range:
- Tight hips and hip flexors, often from sitting for long stretches
- Glutes that have switched off and stopped doing their share
- The muscles running alongside the spine, holding tension all day
When those areas are tight or not pulling their weight, the lower back ends up compensating, and that is when it complains.
How sports massage helps
A focused treatment releases the tension in the hips, glutes and back muscles, improves how freely you move, and takes the load off the areas that have been overworking. Many people leave feeling looser and more mobile, and sleeping better as a result.
It is not a magic fix, and it works best as part of the picture: massage to ease the tension, plus gentle movement and, where useful, some strengthening to keep it from coming back.
What you can do between sessions
- Keep moving. Gentle walking and regular position changes beat long spells of sitting still.
- Break up desk time. Stand and move every half hour or so.
- Ease in, do not force it. Movement should feel better, not sharply worse.
When to get it checked first
Please see your GP before booking massage if you have pain that travels down a leg, numbness or pins and needles, any loss of bladder or bowel control, or pain after a fall or accident. These need proper assessment, and I will always be honest if I think that is your first step.
Ready for some relief
If tension is settling in your lower back, a tailored sports massage can help you move and feel better. Book a session, or message me to talk it through first.
Think this might help you?
Book in, or ask me anything first.