Yes. In many cases of chronic back pain, the muscles around the area are generally stiff, tight or inflamed. Many current muscle manipulation techniques work on these tight muscles, generally causing more damage. Ayurveda offers a treatment called Kati Basti, which softens the muscles and relaxes the surrounding tissues. A dough is prepared from special grains which is shaped into a small ring and placed on the affected area. This adheres to the skin and is then filled with heated, medicated oil. The oil is retained within the ring at a specific temperature for a specific time. This helps the oil to penetrate deeper into the tissues, softening the stiff and tight muscles. It also helps to heal the muscle in a much better way by making it supple before manipulation. Once the oil is removed the therapist will massage specific marma points around the affected area to repair ligaments and tendons, followed by a localised herbal steam to deepen the effect.