🌿 Massage Techniques Must Be Skillful
Massage therapy has a long history, diverse schools, and unique techniques in each school.
When treating lumbar disc herniation, appropriate techniques should be selected based on the stage of disease progression. Below are techniques for different stages:
Acute Phase: Patients in acute flare-ups experience severe pain and restricted movement, primarily due to inflammatory exudate. Massage techniques should not be too strong. Common techniques include rolling, kneading, pushing, and pressing. Their main purpose is to relieve muscle spasms, reduce pain, and promote local blood circulation to facilitate inflammation absorption. After treatment, patients should rest in bed as much as possible, minimize stimulation, and avoid worsening the condition. The first 1–2 weeks are critical. Besides general techniques like rolling, kneading, and point pressing to relax back muscles, loosen tendons, and relieve pain, additional special techniques such as manual traction and various manipulation methods should be combined to promote retraction of the protrusion, correct facet joint disorders, relieve adhesions, and alleviate nerve root compression.
Chronic Phase: For patients with long-standing lumbar disc herniation and relatively stable conditions without significant cauda equina nerve compression, appropriately using rolling, kneading, point pressing, pressing, and lateral manipulation techniques on the waist can both treat the disease and prevent recurrence.