Neck pain massage and lower back pain massage are two of the most common reasons people book sports work on the mid-Peninsula.
The pattern is familiar. Hours at a laptop, a commute that never quite resets, then a workout piled on top.
I treat the neck, shoulders and low back as one system. Upper traps and levator, deep neck flexors that have checked out, lumbar erectors, and the hips that decide what the back has to do.
Desk posture meets training load
A generic back rub feels pleasant and fades by Thursday.
This session is more specific. I look at how your head sits over your ribs, how your low back extends when you stand, and which side you always load. Pressure goes deep enough to change tissue and stays light enough that you can keep breathing. You remain clothed, with no oils or draping.
Red flags still belong to a physician: trauma, unexplained weight loss, fever, progressive weakness, or pain that wakes you every night.
For the everyday, stubborn kind that tracks with screens and training, this is the work I have done for nearly twenty years in Los Altos.
What clients usually want help with
Tech neck
The forward-head, tight-trap pattern from laptops and phones.
Low-back tightness
The band of tension that shows up after sitting, then again after a lift or a run.
Headache referral
Neck and shoulder trigger points that show up as a headache behind the eyes or at the base of the skull.
One stiff side
The shoulder or hip that never quite matches the other after an old injury.
Posture is a load problem, not a character flaw
Tissue adapts to what you ask of it. Ask a neck to hold a head forward for nine hours a day and it will organize itself around that.
Which means the fix is not only pressure. It is movement, appropriate stretching and enough strength to hold a better position. I build that into the plan, and I explain the reasoning in understanding fascia, soft tissue and elasticity.
I come to you for neck and back work
Desk-driven neck and low-back work at your house or office. Same clothed session. I bring the table. In-home sports massage is $400 an hour. The Los Altos studio is $160 if you drive in.
Explore related services
Neuromuscular Therapy
Trigger-point and NMT work that targets the source of referred pain.
Myofascial Release
Slow, sustained pressure that releases tight fascia and restores glide.
Sciatica Massage
NMT and deep-tissue work for hip and low-back patterns that refer down the leg.
Deep Tissue Massage
Strong, precise work for chronic tension and the demands of serious training.
Frequently asked questions
Do you treat both neck pain and lower back pain?
Yes. Many clients book because one is loud and the other is quietly involved. I spend the session where the tissue and your history say the time should go.
Is the pressure painfully deep?
It is specific, not reckless. You should be able to breathe and talk. If a spot needs more time at a lower intensity, that is what it gets.
I sit all day. Is this still sports massage?
Yes. Desk posture is a repetitive-load problem, the same way a sport is. The techniques are the clinical sports and neuromuscular work I use with athletes.
Do I need to undress?
No. Wear a flexible shirt and pants you can move in. No oils or draping.
Will the relief last?
It lasts longer when the work continues between sessions. Hands-on treatment changes the tissue. Movement, stretching and strength are what keep the change.
Can you come to my office or house for neck and back pain?
Yes. Home or office on the Peninsula, from San Jose to San Francisco. Clothed clinical work, not a spa appointment. Studio rate is $160 in Los Altos.