The important spinal muscles conventional massage cannot treat

The most important muscles are usually left untreated

Massage and other soft tissue therapies are extremely import to help the muscles and spine regain their full pain free function. However, arguably the most important of these muscles are typically left untreated. This is because they sit deep around the spine with access often restricted by bony processes. Conventional massage and other therapies cannot reach them. In this summary we will share with you why these muscles are so important and how you can very effectively treated them with vibration massage.

Vibration massage can reach important muscles conventional muscles cannot

Why these muscles are so important

These muscles are collectively known intrinsic muscles. As shown in the diagram they sit deep around the spinal joints between individual vertebrae. They are often attached to the bony levers that are used to stabilise and move the individual spinal joints.

These muscles can be affected by the same myofascial issues that cause tightness and impaired function in the more superficial muscles, so can be responsible for causing restricted or aberrant intersegmental spinal joint movement.

You cannot directly examine these muscles

These muscles are too deep and inaccessible to be palpated so cannot be examined in the normal way. However, they can be indirectly assessed by examining intersegmental spinal movement. As an example, with normal muscles these joints should have reasonable passive movement. This is often referred to as “joint play”. If the intrinsic muscles are tight this joint play and overall movement will be restricted.

Conventional massage and other therapies cannot help

Conventional massage is unable to have a significant effect on these muscles because they are too deep and often between bony levers only a cm or two apart. Needling and ultrasound are also not an option because of the close proximity to nerve roots and other sensitive structures.

Vibration massage is ideal

Therapeutic vibrations from a vibration massager are very safe and are easily able to penetrate deeply and pass between the bony levers.

A practical example to try

If a spinal joint has reduced joint play (as discussed above) place the head of the massager directly over the muscles potentially involved and let the vibrations penetrate for a minute. Repeat on the opposite side of the spine if needed.
Once done, re-examine the joint play. If the intrinsic muscles were tight due to myofascial issues the joint play (and intersegmental movement) will be improved. As discussed in a previous summary , these myofascial issues require regular applications of therapy over time to normalise, so the treatment needs to be continued in order to normalise joint movement.

Do you have colleagues who could use this?

If you have any colleagues who might benefit from using vibration massage can you please send them to our professional's sample page .