Key takeaways.
Massage eases low back pain for many people in the short term. The best results come when the relief is used to get moving and build strength, because the benefit of massage alone mostly fades over time.
- A Cochrane review of 25 trials and 3,096 people found short-term gains in pain and function.
- Compared with other active treatments, massage did better for pain, with weak evidence.
- Sessions cover the back, buttocks, hips and the back of the thighs.
- Bladder or bowel changes, groin numbness or leg weakness need 911 or Lions Gate.
- ICBC pre-approves 12 massage treatments in the first 12 weeks after a crash.
What the largest review found.
The 2015 Cochrane review on massage for low back pain pooled 25 trials with 3,096 people. Most had back pain lasting weeks to months. Here is what it found:
- Against no treatment or a fake treatment, massage improved pain and function in the short term. The gains did not last into the long term.
- Against other active treatments such as exercise, manipulation or relaxation, massage did better for pain in the short term and at longer follow-up, with no difference in function.
- No serious side effects were reported. More pain after treatment was the most common side effect, in 1.5% to 25% of people.
- The evidence was low to very low quality, so the authors had little confidence in the size of the effect.
A 2015 review in the Journal of Physiotherapy, covering 26 trials, found a similar pattern: massage improved function in the short term for low back pain compared with no treatment.
What this means for you: massage is a reasonable way to ease back pain and move more easily for a while. Movement and strength work are what keep the gains.
What a back pain session covers.
The low back rarely works alone. A session often includes:
- The long muscles beside the spine.
- The deep muscle between the lowest rib and the top of the pelvis.
- The buttock muscles, including the deep ones near the sciatic nerve.
- The hip flexors at the front of the hip.
- The muscles at the back of the thigh.
You may lie on your side if lying face down hurts. Pillows under the stomach or knees take strain off the back. Kevin will ask about pressure as he goes, because a sore back can tense up fast. Our deep tissue page explains how firm work should feel.
Making the relief last.
Use the hours after a massage, when your back moves more easily, to do the things that build lasting change:
- Go for a walk the same day.
- Do the stretch or movement your therapist showed you.
- Break up long sitting with short standing or walking breaks.
- Keep up with strength work for the hips and trunk, ideally set by a physiotherapist.
If your back pain keeps coming back, a physiotherapy plan for low back pain builds strength and confidence in movement. Massage can sit alongside it to manage tight muscles during the harder weeks.
Sciatica and leg pain.
Pain that travels into the buttock or down the leg is often called sciatica. Massage can ease the tight back and buttock muscles that come with it. It cannot take pressure off a nerve root in the spine. If leg pain comes with numbness, pins and needles, or weakness, book a physiotherapy assessment first. Our sciatica page explains the causes.
Warning signs: call 911 or go to Lions Gate.
- New trouble controlling your bladder or bowels.
- Numbness in the groin, buttocks or inner thighs.
- Weakness in one or both legs that is getting worse.
- Fever with severe back pain, or back pain with unexplained weight loss.
- Back pain after a serious fall or crash.
These signs can mean a problem with the nerves or spine that needs urgent care. A massage therapist who sees them will stop and send you for help.
Back pain after a car crash.
ICBC pre-approves 12 registered massage therapy treatments and 25 physiotherapy treatments in the first 12 weeks after a crash, with no referral needed. Medstar bills ICBC directly. See low back pain after a crash and the coverage page.
Low back pain questions.
Does massage help low back pain?
Massage helps many people with low back pain feel better in the short term. The 2015 Cochrane review pooled 25 trials and 3,096 people. For back pain lasting weeks to months, massage eased pain and improved function more than no treatment in the short term, but the gains did not last into the long term. The authors rated the evidence low to very low quality.
Is massage better than other treatments for back pain?+
Compared with other active treatments such as exercise, manipulation or relaxation, the 2015 Cochrane review found massage did better for pain in the short term and at longer follow-up, though the evidence was weak. It found no difference for function. In practice this means massage is a reasonable choice to ease pain, and exercise is still needed to rebuild strength and confidence in movement.
How soon can I get a massage after hurting my back?+
For a common back strain with no warning signs, gentle massage can start within the first days if moving is not too painful to get on and off the table. Firm work waits until the worst pain settles. If you have leg weakness, numbness, or problems with bladder or bowel control, get medical care first. A physiotherapy assessment helps when you are unsure what you hurt.
Which muscles are treated for low back pain?+
Low back massage covers the long muscles beside the spine, the deep muscle between the lowest rib and the pelvis, and the buttock muscles. Many therapists also work the hip flexors at the front of the hip and the muscles at the back of the thigh, because tight hips and hamstrings change how the pelvis and low back move. The plan follows what the check finds.
Can massage help sciatica?+
Massage can ease the tight buttock and back muscles that often come with sciatica, and some people find it helps them move more easily. It does not take pressure off an irritated nerve root in the spine. Sciatica with leg weakness, numbness, or bladder or bowel changes needs a medical or physiotherapy assessment before massage. Our sciatica page explains the causes.
How many massage sessions do I need for back pain?+
Most trials gave a series of sessions over several weeks. Many plans start with weekly visits, then a review after three or four. Because the Cochrane review found the benefit was mostly short term, the goal is to use the relief to get moving and build strength. If nothing has changed after three or four visits, the plan needs to change.
Should I see a massage therapist or a physiotherapist for back pain?+
If your back pain is new, severe, spreading into a leg, or not getting better, start with a physiotherapist, who can assess the cause and give exercises. If you have ongoing back tension with no warning signs, massage is a good first stop. Many people at Medstar use both, with the massage therapist and physiotherapist sharing notes with consent.
Is it normal for my back to feel sore after a massage?+
Some soreness for a day or two is common. The 2015 Cochrane review found more pain after treatment was the most common side effect, in 1.5% to 25% of people across the trials, and there were no serious side effects. A short walk usually helps more than resting in bed. Soreness that lasts longer than two days, or new leg symptoms, should be reported.
When is back pain an emergency?+
Call 911 or go to Lions Gate Hospital emergency if back pain comes with new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, weakness in both legs that is getting worse, fever with severe back pain, or back pain after a serious fall or crash. These signs can mean a nerve or spine problem that needs urgent care. Do not book a massage for them.
Does ICBC cover massage for back pain after a crash?+
Yes. ICBC pre-approves 12 registered massage therapy treatments in the first 12 weeks after a crash, with no referral or approval needed. Bring your claim number and Personal Health Number. Medstar's ICBC massage visits are free for the patient. Back pain after a crash often benefits from a physiotherapy assessment too, and ICBC pre-approves 25 physiotherapy treatments in the same period.
Sources.
Checked November 5, 2026.
- Furlan AD, et al. Massage for low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015. 25 trials, 3,096 people. PMID 26329399.
- Bervoets DC, et al. Massage therapy has short-term benefits for people with common musculoskeletal disorders compared to no treatment: a systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy, 2015. 26 trials, 2,565 people. PMID 26093806.
- Mak S, et al. Use of massage therapy for pain, 2018 to 2023: a systematic review. JAMA Network Open, 2024. 129 reviews found. PMID 39008297.
- ICBC. Accessing treatment during your first 12 weeks of recovery (pre-approved treatments table, treatments April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027).
Registered massage therapy at 1325 Marine Drive
Book with Kevin, or call and ask whether massage fits your problem.
Reviewed by Kevin Herter, RMT, Registered Massage Therapist at Medstar Sport Physio & Health, who provides massage therapy at the clinic.
This page gives general information and is not medical advice. Whether massage suits you is decided at your visit, after your history and health questions. If you have chest pain, sudden weakness, a sudden severe headache, or a swollen, hot, painful calf, call 911 or go to Lions Gate Hospital emergency. Massage therapists in BC are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, where you can check any therapist's registration.