Getting a massage can be great for your back. It can relieve tension, ease knotted muscles and help with recovery from injuries such as strains. But there is more than one kind of massage.
As Healthline notes, all massages tend to be categorised as alternative medicine, but they are highly popular and a hot stone massage is something many people believe is highly beneficial.
This involves basalt stones being heated to between 130 and 145 degrees C and placed in various locations on your back and, sometimes, legs and feet as you lie face-down.
They are then moved around using Swedish massage techniques. The technique of Swedish massage involves movements such as long strokes, vibration, tapping, kneading and circular motions.
Basalt stones heat up quickly and can remain hot for a long time, making them ideal for this purpose. The heat alone is accredited with helping ease pain and strains by increasing blood flow to the affected area, while cold stones can help reduce inflammation.
Indeed, the use of heat is the key distinguishing feature of this form of massage. Other kinds will focus on using the hands to manipulate particular areas of the body, but this works by the movement of the hot stones to particular areas from which the heat can spread and bring its various benefits.
Other pain-relieving benefits attributed to these stones include relief from autoimmune conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Additional perceived benefits include cutting stress and anxiety, better sleep, relief from cancer symptoms and boosted immunity.
Hot stone massages are often seen as a very fancy and posh thing, the kind of treatment you see on the websites and brochures of luxury spas and wellness centres. But it is much more widely available than that. You might want to try it yourself and see exactly what it can do for your muscles and general health.
