A back massage is also called a back rub. It is given by stroking your hands across a person's neck, shoulders, and back. A back massage increases blood flow to the skin and muscles. This can help to prevent skin problems in a person who needs to stay in bed most of the time. This can also help ease pain and stiffness, or help the person feel better after being ill. Some people may not be able to have a back massage because of an injury or certain medical problems. Check with a caregiver before giving the person a back massage.

Ask if you are applying too much or too little pressure as you massage. Ask the person to tell you if he feels pain in any area. If there is pain felt, do not massage that area, or massage it very gently.

Warm up the back by applying thumb pressure along both sides of the spine simultaneously: Start at the lower back and knead gently with your thumbs up to the neck area. This will also promote relaxation.

Now that her muscles are warm and loose, it's time to start the massage. Splay your fingers out along her back and with the pads of your thumbs gently, but more firmly than in the warm up; begin rubbing circles up and down the sides of the spine. As the massage progresses you should feel confident to ask your partner how hard or tender they enjoy their massages. Remember, this massage is for your partner and so you should cater to their desires. Again, once you're done massaging the muscles along the spine work up towards the shoulder blades and knead the larger muscles that in between the spines of the shoulder blades and the backbone.

Use slower movements for a soothing or calming response. When applying pressure with finger or thumb, provide support with the other fingers and thumbs. Otherwise you will wear your thumbs out!

Pain in the mid-back can be relieved by massaging the areas on each side of the spine. The spine frequently carries tension from day to day stress, emotional anxieties, and incorrect posture. The Thumper Minipro 2 is a very effective massage tool and great to use along the spine. If you want something with more options, Thumper Versapro massager has 13 different massage settings, a remote control and 7 auto programs. You can use the Versapro massager on your feet, calves, thighs or lower back. You can save some money with a similar performing massage tool. Massagenius Magic Massager has 10 speed adjustments, 2 way heat options and various pre-set program combinations.

Continue kneading at the base of the neck, over the shoulders, and out across the upper arms. The deltoid muscle at the top of the arm is often very tense, and since it lifts the shoulder working with the large muscle across the upper back, you need to include this area in the massage in order to relax the back thoroughly. Then work on the side nearest you - either lean down so that you can push up with your thumbs, or move to the other side of the body and reach across again. Work your way around the back twice.