While chiropractic addresses the hard tissue of your body (vertebrae, bones, joints), massage therapy focuses on soft tissue like muscles and tendons. It is important to combine these two therapies when you are dealing with pain and injuries.
The primary difference between a chiropractor and a massage therapist is that chiropractors are specially trained in functional issues of the musculoskeletal system and use spinal manipulation to treat them. Massage therapy involves manipulating muscle tissue to reduce pain and improve overall movement by releasing tension from the soft tissues.
A massage therapist is skilled at reducing muscle tension and improving circulation. They may utilize different types of massage techniques including Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point therapy and more to help ease your stress, relieve pain and reduce stiffness in the muscles and joints. Massage can also help improve balance, posture and range of motion in patients suffering from neck pain caused by whiplash.
Many chiropractors have in-house massage therapists who work together with the chiropractors to provide a full range of services for their patients. This combination allows you to receive the best of both worlds in terms of pain relief and injury recovery. Massage therapists are trained to work on the muscular and skeletal system and can help identify and address underlying issues that require a chiropractic adjustment.
For example, a chiropractor can help re-align the vertebrae in your neck that have become misaligned as a result of trauma or poor posture. Those vertebrae are essential to the function of your neck, as they support the weight of your head and carry blood vessels and nerves to your face. If they are out of alignment, it can cause serious health problems such as headaches and pain in the neck. Massage can then be used in conjunction with chiropractic care to help improve range of motion, decrease pain and help your body heal itself.
In addition, when your muscles are relaxed it makes it easier for your chiropractor to perform adjustments on your body as they will not have to battle with tight, guarded muscles. This is especially important when you are recovering from an injury and need to get back on your feet as quickly as possible.
Choosing one treatment option that only deals with your hard tissues such as bones or joints leaves the other side of the equation untreated and can cause you to suffer more in the long run. By combining both chiropractic and massage therapy you can tap into the incredible healing potential of your body to get the results you need fast.