Back Care massage

Includes the area from the back and shoulder to the lower buttocks

Purpose
• To relieve muscle tension
• To promote physical and mental relaxation
• To improve muscle and skin functioning
• To relieve insomnia
• To relax patient
• To provide a relieve from pain
• To prevent pressure sores (decubitus)
• To enhance circulation

Equipment
Basin of warm water
Washcloth
Towel
Soap
Skin care lotion

Procedure
1. Prepare the pt and pt's unit • Provide privacy by using screen or closing windows and doors.
• Assist pt to move close to your working side
• Position patient prone (lie on abdomen) if possible. If not because of the pt's condition, use side lying position with the pt facing away from you.
• Expose the back of the pt.
• Spread towel close to pt's back to protect foundation of the bed.
• Wash the back with warm water and soap using wash towel, rinse and dry it (if it is not given with bath)

2. Massaging the back
• Pour small amount of lotion (oil) on your palm and rub your palms together to warm the lotion (oil) before massaging.
• Massage the back using appropriate technique

Technique for Backbub (massage)
• Rub towards the neck line using long, firm, smooth strokes
• Pause at the neckline, using your fingers to massage the side of the neck.
• With a kneading motion, rub out along the shoulders continue the kneading motion and move down on each side of the trunk with both hands until you are again at the sacral area.
• Then, placing your hands side by side with the palms down, rub in figure of 8 patterns over the buttock and sacral area.
• Massaging back using appropriate techniques (Light pressure to smooth, heavy pressure to stumulate).
• Next, again using the kneading motion, move up the sides (about the vertebra) through the intrascapular space towards the shoulder.
• Ask the pt if there is any area that he/she would especially like to be rubbed.
• Complete the back rub using long, firm strokes up and sown the back. (shoulder to sacrum and back to shoulder).

Recomfort the pt.
• Mop extra oil/lotion from the pt's back using towel.
• Apply powder / alcohol to dry further moisture from the back, if the skin is moist in its nature
• Dress up the pt's pajama and replace the top cover.
• Reposition the pt.
• Leave the pt comfortably

4. Give proper care of equipments

5. Document the procedure, your observations and pt's reactions
• Report any abnormal observations on the skin of the back (such as signs of pressure sore) to the nurse and physician in charge of the pt.