BACK CARE / BACK MASSAGE / BACK RUB – Nurse Info BACK CARE / BACK MASSAGE / BACK RUB

BACK CARE/BACK MASSAGE/BACK RUB

UPDATED 2024

Back care means cleaning and massaging back, paying special
attention to pressure points

Back massage provides comfort pleases and relaxes the
patient; thereby it facilitates the physical stimulation to the skin and the
emotional relaxation

Back rub means attending the back and pressure points of body
with special care it is often called as back care or back massage

Purpose

To give comfort to the patient
To stimulate blood circulation
To promote rest and sleep
To prevent pressure sores
To assess the skin condition
To relax and relieve tension in
tissues and muscles
To refresh patient and relieve
fatigue

General Instructions

Back care given as a part of morning
care and evening care
Pressure points are attended more
frequently and the position is changed
When the skin is greasy, moist, thin
about to break or patient is in continent or edematous used spirit or powder to
reduce friction
When the skin is dry, use oil for
back rub. Spirit toughens the skins and powder reduces friction oil lubricates
the skin and, hence friction
When giving back rub, use more
pressure on upward strokes towards the head and less pressure on the downward
strokes
Back rub may be contraindicated in
patients susceptible to clotting disorders

Equipment

A tray containing of:

A basin of warm water
Sponge cloths – 2
Soap and towel
Surgical spirit or back-rub lotion
and powder
Mackintosh and towel
Kidney tray and paper bag

Procedure

Wash hands and explain the procedure
Screen the patient and explain the
procedure
Turn the patient on his side
Turn back top bedding and expose only
required part
Spread towel close to the patients
back to protect bed linen
Wash back thoroughly from cervical
spine to the coccyx
Apply soap in the same manner. Run
hands firmly and slowly up the back on either side of the vertebral column up
the neck and down across the shoulders
Pour some spirit in to hand applies
firmly in a circular motion repeat until back is thoroughly rubbed with it
Wash off soap and dry thoroughly with
towel
The back must be rubbed three to five
minutes especially over pressure points
Apply back powder after through
drying of the spirit
Remove the towel
Cover the patient with top bedding