While getting a massage is an excellent way to relax and help reduce stress and tension in the body, it can also have physical benefits when combined with chiropractic care. Massage therapy is a recognized medical technique, with licensed professionals who can identify problem areas of the body and effectively treat pain through manipulation of the soft tissue. When seeking chiropractic care it is essential to also evaluate and treat your muscles, as they support each bone in the human body. If your muscles are not working together as they should, you will likely have problems with your bones and joints. Chiropractors are doctors with expertise in the entire human musculoskeletal system and know precisely what to look for to ensure you get the most out of treatment.
How Massage Therapy Supports Chiropractic Care
Massage therapy addresses the soft tissue within your body–your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue. This soft tissue is responsible for several things, including proper movement and the support of your bones. When any of this tissue is damaged, such as from a sports injury or chronic tension, you may have additional problems in the surrounding area as other parts of your body work harder to compensate for the improper function.
When this happens, you can develop back pain, poor posture, and experience symptoms such as stiffness and a decreased range of motion. Additionally, problems in one muscle group can result in referred pain, or pain that you experience in another area of the body. For example, stiff muscles in the neck and upper back and lead to headaches.
Furthermore, when muscles are stiff or injured, it can make it more challenging for a chiropractor to properly adjust your skeletal system. Often, to facilitate the correct bone movement muscles must be limber and in their rightful place. When therapists use massage with chiropractic care it ensures that all of the parts of your musculoskeletal system can move together as they should, in a way that promotes healing and alleviates pain and tension.
Massage Therapy and Pain Levels
Many individuals seek chiropractic care to relieve the pain they are feeling, whether it be from the ailments of everyday life, a chronic health condition, or an injury. A chiropractor will often recommend massage therapy as a component of treatment to help reduce pain and tension. Patients may wonder which service is actually reducing pain more, the massage portion of therapy or the bone alignment. The answer is that the two services work together in tandem to provide the best results. They complement each other, ensuring that each treatment technique is as effective as it can be.
Additionally, massage therapy can help relieve pain that may not be entirely solved through spinal manipulation. This is often the case when a patient experiences a soft tissue injury or is experiencing muscle tension due to stress. Pregnant women also frequently find relief from the aches and pains associated with carrying a child through neonatal massage, a specialty practice that targets the precise tissues that are under stress because of a growing baby.
Experiencing Pain after a Massage
Some patients do note that they feel sore the day after a massage and have questions regarding whether this is normal. The answer is that it is, particularly with massage therapy techniques such as deep tissue. A massage therapist uses deliberate, guided manipulations of the soft tissue in a specific area, which stimulates blood flow. Additionally, these areas are often spots that are not functioning as they should. The pressure and increased blood flow to the area can leave you feeling bruised, which is a sign that your muscles are responding as they should.
Additional Benefits of Massage Therapy
There are countless physical benefits of massage therapy when used in conjunction with traditional chiropractic treatment, such as pain relief and faster healing. However, there are additional benefits that many patients report after receiving treatment as well. Massage therapy can help reduce stress, and improve mental health. It can help patients manage feelings of anxiety and lead to improved mood.
Additionally, like traditional chiropractic care, massage therapy has benefits that include reducing symptoms of insomnia and helping patients to get a better night’s sleep. Many individuals stay awake at night, tossing and turning due to aches, pains, and muscle tension. Or, they wake up frequently throughout the night uncomfortable. Massage therapy helps relax muscles and can alleviate these ailments improving sleep and helping patients to feel better rested in the morning.
Other patients report benefits such as improved digestive function, increased energy, better immune response, and more. Massage therapy promotes proper blood flow throughout your body and enables all your nerves to work together as they should. When this happens, each system in your body communicates with the others as intended. Many common ailments may improve and you will begin to notice the difference.
Chiropractors in Pompano Beach, Florida
If you are experiencing muscle pain, headaches, insomnia, back pain, are healing from an injury, or are looking to improve your overall whole-body wellness, see a Pompano Beach chiropractor and ask about the benefits of massage therapy. Massage therapy and traditional chiropractic treatment can help countless individuals to experience a better quality of life.
When seeking chiropractic care, be sure to ask the office what additional services they offer in addition to traditional spine alignments. Not all chiropractic offices offer massage therapy on-site. Additionally, ask about other ancillary services such as acupuncture, cupping therapy, and specialty treatment you may require such as prenatal chiropractic treatment or pediatric chiropractic care for your child. For the best results and optimum safety, it is essential that you find a chiropractic doctor and licensed massage therapist that specializes in your unique needs.
