Whether you’re experiencing pain or suffering from a specific health issue, or simply want to maintain an active lifestyle, chiropractic and massage therapy offer a holistic approach to wellness. Combining these two hands-on therapies, which target different areas of the body, offers a more comprehensive treatment that helps prevent injury and speed recovery.
Chiropractic treatment usually involves manual joint manipulation to improve alignment and enhance function, while massage therapy focuses on the soft tissues including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The musculoskeletal and muscular systems rely on one another to work properly, which is why combining these two treatments is so effective.
Massage is often used to ease back pain, reduce muscle tension and stress, increase range of motion, and promote healthy circulation throughout the entire body. It’s also been shown to reduce blood pressure, increase serotonin levels and improve sleep quality – all of which help to ease chronic pain and stress.
While a chiropractor addresses specific pain by manipulating the joints, the muscles and tendons that surround these joints can pull on the bones and cause additional pain. Having a sports massage beforehand can relieve these tight muscles, making adjustments more effective. In fact, some patients report that they notice a difference in their symptoms more quickly when the massage is done prior to the chiropractic treatment.
Both chiropractic and massage are proven to be highly therapeutic in a number of physical ailments, such as neck and back pain, sciatica, headaches, arthritis and fibromyalgia. They’re also effective in relieving muscle strain, and enhancing athletic performance.
Many people choose to receive chiropractic care and massage in tandem because both are holistic modalities that treat the whole person. They understand how seemingly unrelated issues can affect each other, and they recognize that the various parts of the body depend on one another to work together.
A chiropractor can use different techniques to manipulate the joints in the spine and neck, while a massage therapist can address injuries to the soft tissues in these areas. Massage has been shown to help with a variety of health problems, such as car accident-related injuries, whiplash, and other muscle strains.
The combination of chiropractic and massage is particularly useful for athletes who want to achieve peak performance. Regular chiropractic work irons out any nagging pain or injuries, while massage work increases blood flow to the body, which boosts athletic performance and makes it easier for joints to move freely.
A chiropractic adjustment can make some muscles and tendons tight, which leads to reduced flexibility and range of motion. Having a massage session before the adjustment can ease these tight muscles, and make the adjustment more effective because loose muscles are more likely to retain their new position. However, it’s important to speak with your doctor and massage therapist about when to get the two treatments so that they both work at their best. They may suggest that you have a massage first and then the chiropractic adjustment, or they may recommend staggering them to achieve the maximum benefits for your specific situation. For more details on message therapy visit https://www.atlantachiropractor.net/.