The word “massage” alone can make you close your eyes, take a deep breath, and sigh with remembered pleasures.
An age-old remedy, therapeutic massage has been proven to be an effective remedy for many musculoskeletal problems and a terrific compliment to chiropractic treatments.
Chiropractic and massage therapy have a great deal in common, such as being a non-invasive, hands on therapy, holistic in nature, and based on the idea that the body has the ability to heal itself.
Is it any wonder then that nearly every chiropractic clinic employs massage therapists?
These two techniques facilitate the healing process by putting the body in proper alignment, ensuring that the nerves are free to send and receive impulses, while loosening tight muscles and improving circulation.
Any type of problem within the musculoskeletal system of the body can interfere with its own natural healing process. Dysfunction and pain, especially back pain, are the main reasons people head to chiropractic clinics and massage therapists alike.
Chiropractic Massage Meaning
Since you probably know what chiropractic is and what massage is, you might be wondering what exactly chiropractic massage is.
Whether you choose to call it chiromassage or chiropractic massage, this procedure is defined as being a hand massage that does not use any other type of device, such as heated stones, in order to improve healing, under the supervision or direction of the chiropractor.
Chiropractor or Massage?
This usually isn’t an either-or situation. Similar to asking whether you need socks or shoes, it might depend on whether you intend to go outside the home, but for the most part, chiropractic and massage go together since they compliment each other perfectly.
Is It Better to Get a Massage Before or After the Chiropractor?
Depending on your unique circumstances, the chiropractor will determine which is most beneficial for you, but speaking in general, after a through exam, the chiropractor will offer a massage to ease tight muscles, loosen joints, and relax the body to prepare it for adjustments.
After the chiropractor performs his adjustments, patients are often scheduled for another massage and/or chiropractic visit at a later date.
Effective Chiropractic Massage Therapy
While you probably know of many businesses that offer massage, many of these are designed to relax and pleasure the senses, including the use of scented candles or oils, serene music, dim lights, and warm towels.
Many massage locations are also primed to “upsell” certain products or other services, including facials, pedicures, body wraps, or waxing.
Not that we are denigrating these services! There is something delightful and indulgent about day spa types of massage and they provide a very worthwhile service when it comes to stress relief and improving self-esteem with self-care.
Effective chiropractic massage therapy, however, has the ability to change your life in ways that are incomparable to a normal massage.
Lifesaver #1-Reduces or Eliminates Pain
We wanted to make this the #1 item on the list because it just might be the most important one. With approximately 8 out of every 10 Americans suffering from some sort of back pain, muscle pain, joint pain or headaches, the reduction pain, or in some cases the complete elimination of pain, is a huge life changing event worth noting.
Massage will greatly rev up the blood flow in your body, bringing fresh blood with healing nutrients to damaged areas and removing injured tissues. Combine this with chiropractic adjustments that return alignment to the spine, neck, and joints, and you’ve got some major pain relief going on!
One study even found that, for children who had suffered burns, massage therapy reduced their pain levels.
Imagine what your life could be if you were to find that your chronic neck, back, leg, knee pain (or whatever is hurting you) had evaporated over a short period of time?
That would be a life changing event in anyone’s life that would be worth taking note of!
Lifesaver #2-Enhances Quality of Life
As a natural extension of lifesaver #1, it’s easy to see that when you are no longer suffering musculoskeletal pain or migraines, your entire quality of life would tremendously improve.
Once you aren’t feeling pain and your body properly aligned, you will feel better. Feeling better usually means that you are going to get out and get moving more or doing more. This leads to feeling good about yourself and eating a healthier diet and/or taking better care of yourself. When you eat right and have an improved sense of self-esteem, your entire quality of life takes a turn for the sunny side of the street!
Who knows who far you could take this?! You might decide to go back to school, get a better job or open up your own business, move to a place that you’ve always wanted to live, or decide to travel around the world.
Who would have ever thought that chiropractic massage could do all that in someone’s life?
Lifesaver #3-Revamps Cognitive Function
Do you find yourself becoming easily distracted? Did your memory seem to just get up and go without you? Do you wish you could be more productive but can’t seem to make yourself concentrate like you used to?
Believe it or not, even for those who aren’t necessarily having pain, chiropractic massage can give your cognitive function a major overhaul.
Improved circulation doesn’t just happen to the body as it is massaged, it also continues up to the brain. An increased flow of fresh blood and oxygen to the brain is well-known for boosting one’s brain power!
Many patients who receive regular massages at their chiropractor’s office will tell you that they feel sharper in their thinking, less brain fog, and with fewer “senior moments”, when that word you want is on the tip of your tongue, but you can’t quite bring it forward.
Lifesaver #4-Reduces Depression and Anxiety
Depression and feelings of anxiety are rampant in modern day America. Many times, these feelings are due to stress, which can be reduced, but never completely eliminated.
Studies have shown that one-hour massages can lower the stress hormone cortisol, by as much as 30 percent. Once cortisol levels drop, the body’s feel good hormones, serotonin and dopamine, increase almost as much as cortisol levels drop, about 28%.
The safe, nurturing touch from this type of hands on therapy relaxes the mind, as much as the body, offering a substantially increased awareness of the mind-body connection. Nearly everyone who receives this type of therapy feels a deep calm and sense of well-being that is hard to match.
This emotional balance and reduction in these destructive feelings is just as valuable as any other type of therapy, including talk therapy, and can absolutely be life-changing!
Lifesaver #5-Improves Sleep Quality
If you have ever had a truly terrible day after missing out on your 8 hours of Z’s, then you understand at least the basics about how important quality sleep is.
It’s estimated that 1 in 5 Americans suffer from sleep deprivation. This is problematic as a lack of sleep tangles the biochemistry of the entire body, making it more sensitive to pain, more apt to have inflammation, and a reduced immune system response.
Studies have even found that regular massage therapy can help chronic insomniacs catch more dreams in the night, even menopausal women, who are notorious for not being able to keep regular sleeping patterns.
By relieving pain, reducing stress, and increasing feelings of happiness, massage therapy promotes improved sleep quality. When the body is relaxed and falls outside the “fight or flight” stress response mode, the mind can rest and the body will be able to perform the necessary nighttime functions of hormone replacement, tissue repair, and other types of healing.
What a life changing event it would be if you were able to sleep soundly and wake up feeling refreshed, full of energy, and ready to meet the day’s demands?
What is the Difference Between a Chiropractor and a Massage Therapist?
While both types of therapy stimulate the body’s ability to heal, massage therapy’s focus is on the muscles and soft tissues, improving circulation and relaxation, as well as preparing the body for chiropractic adjustments.
A chiropractor’s focus is holistic, taking the entire body into consideration. A chiropractor will manipulate the spine and other joints, aligning the bones through applied pressure.
Is This Type of Therapy Effective?
It is not only effective but as we stated, it can be life changing. Studies show that massage therapy relieves pain and offers many other benefits, as does chiropractic care.
Chiropractic massage is far better than massage or chiropractic adjustments alone. When the muscles have been relaxed and healing nutrients are being fed to the body via improved circulation, then chiropractic adjustments can complete the job by allowing the spine to be easily aligned, so nerves can communicate freely, and the body will heal more quickly.
We hope you found this article helpful. If so, please feel free to share this information with friends, family, or co-workers via email or social media sites.
Are you interested in learning more about how chiropractic massage can help you to heal and change your life forever? If you are typing “chiropractic massage near me” right now, look no further than Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab. We have some of the most skilled massage therapists in Anchorage, Wasilla, and Juneau. Our chiropractors are world class experts when it comes to discovering and treating the root of your problem.
Call one of our locations today or click here to make an appointment online. Take control of your future and call us for one of our life changing chiropractic massage therapy consultations today.
