What’s the Difference Between Seeing a Chiropractor and Massage Therapist?
There are many reasons why people get massages. Often stiff muscles, headaches, muscle pain, and even stress can be relieved by a professional massage therapist. Well, if you combine massage therapy with chiropractic services, you will experience EVEN GREATER benefits. Chiropractic treatments THROUGH SPECIFIC SPINAL ADJUSTMENTS can especially help those that suffer with neck or back pain to avoid strong prescription drugs for pain relief. According to the American Chiropractic Association:
“With prescription pain drug abuse now classified as an epidemic in the United States and the number of spinal fusions soaring 500% over the last decade, the essential services provided by chiropractors represent a primary care approach for the prevention, diagnosis and conservative management of back pain and spinal disorders that can often enable patients to reduce or avoid the need for these riskier treatments.”
The combination of both chiropractic treatments and massage therapy is an ideal way to prevent or ease many conditions. When used together, improvements to the central nervous system are realized. The central nervous system is the pathway in which pain signals are sent to the brain, and through massage therapy and chiropractic treatment you may notice:
- Improvement of the immune system’s ability to fight viruses by increasing the activity of white blood cells
- Reduction of the compression and irritation on nerves which reduces pain in your joints and soft tissue
- Inflammation is reduced due to increased blood flow
- Overall flexibility and range of motion is improved
What Does A Chiropractor Do?
Unlike a massage therapist, who deals with the manipulation of muscles and soft tissue, chiropractors will adjust the spine, neck, and other musculoskeletal systems using a hands-on approach TO REMOVE THE INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY MISALIGNED VERTEBRAE. The theory behind these treatments is that the proper alignment of the body’s skeletal system and muscles will enhance the body’s ability to heal itself. Chiropractic ADJUSTMENTS are often RECOMMENDED as an alternative to pain medication or surgery. When patients experience repetitive stress on the back or a fall that causes traumatic injury to the spine, chiropractic treatments can reduce the restriction of joints and increase mobility – both of which increases range of motion and reduces pain.
How Does a Massage Help?
A massage therapist manipulates the body with a hands-on approach to help patients deal with injuries or mental/emotional stress. Massaging injured muscles will relax the tissues of the muscle to decrease compression on the nerves and increase the range of motion in the muscles. Massage therapy has successfully treated strains or injuries to soft tissue muscles, stress, headaches, anxiety, and Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). There are multiple types of massages available, including:
- Trigger point– A targeted massage therapy technique that relieves areas that are tight and cause pain.
- Deep tissue– Uses slow movements that target muscles with concentrated pressure.
- Swedish– A traditional kind of massage that increases blood flow and circulation, while inducing relaxation.
Benefits of Massage and Chiropractic Treatments
When you choose both chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy, your overall health and wellness is enhanced, because the body’s muscles and skeletal system work together, coordinating movement via signals received and sent by the nervous system. The body’s nerves can become inflamed after an injury. Both massage therapy and chiropractic treatments will reduce muscular restriction and nervous system inflammation, allowing both systems to function at a higher level.
So, imagine receiving both treatments by the same practitioner. First, the patient’s muscles are manually relaxed with a massage. Nerve compression is reduced, pain is relieved, and a heightened sense of well-being is felt in the patient. Next, a manual manipulation of the vertebrae and neck are conducted to increase range of motion and also reduce irritability of the nerves. Together, a higher level of emotional wellness and increased musculoskeletal functioning is achieved.
If you would like to improve your nervous system’s functioning, reduce inflammation from an injury, and get relief from pain, then routine chiropractic care in conjunction with massage therapy might be the right decision for you. Consult with one of our professionals at 100% Chiropractic. We have multiple locations that offer both services for increased wellness and reduced pain. Call a chiropractor near you today to get your First Chiropractic Experience at living life at 100%!
