You know that massage therapy is about relieving tired muscles and inducing relaxation. You may know that chiropractic medicine works with the manipulation of bones and joints to alleviate discomfort and chronic pain. What isn’t well known is whether these two disciplines can work together to promote wellness.
We put massage therapy and chiropractic medicine head to head to determine if the two can work together and, if so, how the two can complement one another for the best results.
Therapeutic Massage
Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the body’s soft tissues. A massage practitioner is known as a masseuse, which is an individual trained on the hands-on techniques known for treating body stress and pain naturally.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
When you schedule a massage with a professional masseuse, you will usually be directed to a darkened room with a relaxing ambiance. Soothing music will play as you undress and get under the sheet in preparation for the masseuse to walk into the room. Already, you are feeling relaxed, before the masseuse ever lays a hand on you.
When the massage eventually begins, the masseuse will use strokes, kneading motions, vibration, and other techniques to promote muscle relaxation. But the main aim of massage is to locate the source of any pain you may be feeling. That pain is then targeted and eliminated through hands-on techniques.
Massage therapy also releases endorphins (which further reduce pain), boosts serotonin, and eases the muscles all over your body. Clients end up leaving their appointments feeling at ease, euphoric, and totally at peace.
There are two other little-known benefits of massage you should know about. Improved blood circulation is a benefit that can help to bring damaged or tense muscles the blood supply they desperately need. This promotes your body’s natural healing abilities. If you have an injury, improved circulation is what you want for fast healing.
And when it comes to posture, massage again saves the day. Millions of people experience muscle pain in their back and neck. In most cases, their poor posture is to blame for the discomfort that hinders their quality of life. When you stand and sit hunched over all day, you end up putting strain on your lower back, hips, glutes, and legs. Massage therapy can help to loosen the tight muscles and improve your back posture naturally.
In the hands of a skilled massage therapist or masseuse, you’ll have the opportunity to achieve a heightened sense of wellness, boosted emotional stability, and immense stress relief.
Chiropractic Medicine
Chiropractors focus on the treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. It is the belief that these systems can directly affect a person’s overall health. Studies have shown that by combining therapeutic massage and chiropractic medicine, you can enjoy the increased benefits offered by both disciplines concurrently.
When used together, massage and chiropractic techniques can provide maximum healing ability, helping to alleviate any discomfort the patient may be feeling.
Benefits of Chiropractic Medicine
The aim of chiropractic medicine is to present you with a natural approach to improving your health and wellness. The science is directed at the body’s skeletal system. The techniques involve aligning the many bones that make up your skeleton to help your body maintain an optimal state. When the skeletal system perfectly aligns with the muscular system, the body experiences pain relief. This is because there is no longer undue pressure on the joints, resulting in improved mobility of all the joints and muscles.
When your body achieves an ideal state of alignment, your nervous system functions more efficiently, which unlocks your body’s natural healing mechanisms. With no pain, you are able to move around more freely, while maintaining emotional stability throughout.
Chiropractic medicine can also help to lower your blood pressure and mitigate adverse side effects of the condition, such as anxiety, nausea, and fatigue. According to research, the effects of chiropractic adjustments persist for a period of six whole months following treatment.
Over 80% of Americans experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. While they have medications and numbing creams, these substances can be expensive, ineffective and, in some cases, harmful to your health. Having an adjustment done by a chiropractor can significantly reduce neck and back pain. The techniques used are natural and non-invasive. Chiropractic appointments are also typically cheaper than alternative neck and pain management methods.
There are two additional benefits, such as the ability to prevent and treat scoliosis, and treat sciatica that make chiropractic medicine so necessary. Scoliosis is when a person’s spine develops an abnormal curve, leading to pain, poor posture, and limited range of motion. Chiropractic adjustments can help to prevent the condition from progressing while boosting your overall health. Scoliosis patients are encouraged to follow up their chiropractic care with massage to yield maximum benefit from both health-boosting methods.
Sciatica develops as pain that radiates from your lower back and down your legs. The condition is caused by a damaged or pressured nerve that starts from your hip and extends all the way down your leg to your feet. The chronic pain you feel can drastically affect your lifestyle. Chiropractic adjustments can relieve pressure from the sciatic nerve, which can reduce the severity and longevity of the condition.
How Massage and Chiropractic Care Work Together
Massage therapy and chiropractic medicine offer similar benefits. After regular treatments of both, you’ll find yourself moving around better, feeling less pain, and experiencing overall good health. When used in conjunction, both natural therapies can boost your mood and improve your quality of life. They may even help you live a longer life. The disciplines are perfect complements of one another. Massage focuses on soft tissues while chiropractic care deals with the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and hard tissues that make up the human body. Making time for both treatments can significantly improve the way your body works and the way you feel.For the best massage therapy in the Cincinnati area, we encourage you to call Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa. We offer four convenient locations in Hyde Park, West Chester, Kenwood, and Tri-County, and look forward to de-stressing your life and improving your health. Call today to book your appointment for one of our wide range of quality massage treatments – (513)793-0900.
