If you suffer with back or neck pain and you are looking to get a professional massage, play it smart and be a careful shopper. While massage therapists do have educational and licensing requirements, skill levels vary widely. Ask the hard questions before making that first appointment.
If you are interested in massage you can try on your own neck and shoulders, or those of a friend, below are a few how-to articles for some common sore spots. They are great for that occasional crick in the neck you get after sleeping in an awkward position:
