The Massage-Chiropractic Care Connection

Upper cervical chiropractic has been shown to assist with dozens of ailments ranging from back pain and fibromyalgia to headaches and sleeping disorders. The gentle, nonintrusive adjustments made by an upper cervical chiropractor allow the body to realign and assist itself. Standard chiropractors tend to use more moderate pressure and different techniques, but both forms of chiropractic care are considered alternatives to standard medical practices.

Chiropractic care and the belief that the body can heal itself is a centuries-old practice that has seen resurgence in popularity as more people seek a healthier and more holistic way to care for their bodies. In addition to chiropractic care, many people are also seeking out massage therapy as a way to supplement and complement their healthcare.

The marriage of chiropractic and massage therapy makes sense: Both share the common goal of treating the whole person rather than simply concealing symptoms through the use of natural, hands-on and drug-free techniques. Massage is about more than just temporary relaxation. Moderate pressure to muscles and soft tissues is a catalyst for a whole range of biological effects, so getting frequent massages—or participating in self-massage exercises such as yoga—in addition to chiropractic care, stimulates the body’s pressure receptors. This, in turn, triggers self-healing within the body.

Both chiropractic care and massage are used for preventative and restorative purposes, and combining the two often leads to a faster and more complete recovery by addressing the entire body instead of isolated problems. When soft tissue is relaxed by massage, the patient is often less anxious about chiropractic adjustments, and these adjustments often last longer because muscle tension is released and joints are less likely to fall out of alignment again. In addition, both chiropractic adjustments and massages can help improve the range of motion and increase circulation. When combined, the therapies help to reach the shared goal of allowing the body to function at its very best without the assistance of drugs or invasive treatments.

Chiropractic care and massage work hand-in-hand by focusing on specific areas of strength. For example, massage may help minimize pain, but if a problem is caused by a misalignment of the spine, then a chiropractic adjustment may be necessary. Likewise, massage therapy can ease muscle tension and deep tissue pain that can increase self healing of the body.

Ask a doctor at The Specific Chiropractic Center about our wonderful massage services and special packages!!

RESOURCES

Chiropractic and Massage Therapy – Working Well Together. HealingHandsLMT.com. (April 30, 2009) Retrieved December 27, 2011 from http://www.healinghandslmt.com/Blog/tabid/154/EntryId/68/Chiropractic-and-Massage-Therapy-Working-well-together.aspx.

DeNoon, Daniel J. Massage, Chiropractic Top Medical Alternatives. WebMD.com (June 30, 2005) Retrieved December 27, 2011 from http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20050630/massage-chiropractic-top-medical-alternatives.