What is Massage Therapy?

The advantages of receiving a massage range from relaxed muscles to a more optimistic outlook. Many clients turn to a skilled masseuse in preparation for daily pressures or at the end of a stressful day.

A list of the potential benefits of massage on the Better Health Channel website includes:

• Relaxing muscles

• Improving circulation

• Increasing flexibility in joints

• Stimulating the lymphatic system

• Lowering stress hormones

• Improving skin tone

In addition to those physical benefits, studies show that massage therapy can contribute to reducing anxiety and depression, and improving mental alertness. And there are positive effects to many forms of massage, from shiatsu and reflexology to deep tissue and Swedish massage.

What is Chiropractic Care?

Recovery from injury occurs faster when your nervous system is functioning at an optimal level. By including chiropractic care to your routine healthcare regimen, you gain another level of natural treatment to prevent injury and boost wellness.

Your chiropractor uses manual therapies to improve spinal alignment that reduces joint restriction and helps boost function. The treatment, called the chiropractic adjustment, involves applying gentle pressure to specific spinal joints to improve motion, minimize painful symptoms, and maximize the nervous system’s ability to fight disease.

The benefits of chiropractic care include:

• Better functioning immune system

• Increased circulation

• Greater flexibility

• Maximum range of motion

Your chiropractor can treat specific injuries to reduce pain and regain function, but regular visits to a chiropractor serve to maintain these benefits, which include reduced inflammation,a healthier nervous system, and a more active lifestyle.

A Combination of Massage and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care can build on the benefits of massage, which primarily targets soft tissue areas. A massage therapist can loosen ligaments, tendons, and muscles while a chiropractor restores spinal alignment, thereby managing pain and improving function. In fact, a massage is a good precursor to a chiropractic visit, as it lowers joint restriction, making the chiropractor’s job easier.

Studies show there are psychological benefits to both massage and chiropractic care. The National University of Health Sciences has an article touting the positive effects of massage therapy.

Treatments that inspire relaxation also reduce blood pressure and lower the heart rate while lowering levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. The American Massage Therapy Association claims that immediate benefits are long-lasting. The rest you receive during a session also extends to improve sleep at night.

The mind-body connection creates a cycle of wellness when you couple health treatments such as massage and chiropractic care. Anxiety and depression are linked to the presence of headaches, muscle tension, and stiffness, which can be reduced through wellness treatments. When these physical symptoms persist, they threaten your mental health, which means the relief your chiropractor and a skillful masseuse provide can impact both your body and mind.

Including chiropractic care is an important part of any healthcare routine. But if you aren’t yet part of the health movement that sees the value in a fully functioning nervous system and optimized immune system, understand that the immediate benefits you get from spa treatments become longer lasting when you add regular chiropractic visits to your schedule.

The holistic experience of relaxation and improvement of joint function can boost your overall mental and physical wellness. Getting a massage is an effective way to reduce stress and loosen up, but the synergy gained by adding chiropractic provides the benefit of measurable lasting effects. And what could be a better gift to yourself?

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.