Massage is often recommended along with chiropractic treatment, either before or after and adjustment, as part of a longer treatment regimen. This combination of treatments often produces more effective results, and faster healing in the patient. One of the reasons for this to be true is that both massage and chiropractic care share a similar goal – helping to achieve a state of total well being, not simply relief from the immediate symptom.
Our spines are surrounded and connected to soft tissue, muscle to tendons that control the movement and flexibility of the spine that may either cause or exacerbate a structural problem. Tight, weak, or over stretched muscles and ligaments can prolong spinal problems and postpone healing. Massage therapy is helpful in relieving these kind of soft tissue problems. In simple terms chiropractors work with bones and joints, and massage therapists work with muscle. But as treatments, they are both compatible and complementary.
Massage can be performed as preparation for chiropractic adjustment because it relieves the muscle tension that may be pulling joints out of alignment and make it easier to move back into place. Massage is also relaxing, and a relaxed body is easier for the chiropractor to work with. In addition, as a chiropractor corrects the structural problems that are causing or limiting your mobility, massage can compliment the healing process by stretching and relaxing muscles that have been aggravated by these structural problems, making it easier for you to stretch and exercise, and thus more quickly achieve a state of well being.
