Chiropractic is a hands-on manual treatment, with practitioners trained in diagnosing and treating spinal misalignments and other muscular issues. The goal is to restore normal function to the skeletal system, allowing movement and pain relief to return. Combining this with massage can increase the effectiveness of treatment, accelerate healing, and reduce pain and inflammation from injuries, overuse, and age-related muscle and joint problems.
Chiropractors quickly realign structural bones, especially the vertebrae of your spine. This is similar to tuning a piano string that went slightly out of tune. They also rebalance joints that have moved from their ideal positions. These adjustments relieve pressure on nerves that run through your spine and other bones, easing symptoms like sciatica or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Massage therapy improves circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the tissues of your body that need them. This can help decrease swelling that often occurs with soft tissue injury or back pain, and speed up the recovery process for a variety of conditions including whiplash, sprains, and muscle pulls. The gentle kneading and stroking movements of massage also release natural pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins that trigger receptors to block painful signals from the brain.
Unlike traditional massage, chiropractic massage incorporates specific adjustments to the skeletal structure, targeting areas of tightness or weakness. These adjustments include high-velocity low-amplitude spinal manipulation (HVLA SMT), joint mobilization, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Some chiropractors also use instruments to assist in these techniques.
While some chiropractors may use massage tools for greater accuracy and depth in certain types of deep tissue work, a skilled practitioner always prioritizes your comfort level. These tools are generally small, tube-shaped objects of varying toughness and size that allow your practitioner to reach muscles in areas where they might not be able to effectively manipulate with their hands alone. Rollers are one example, but there are many others.
It is important to note that combining chiropractic and massage can have some mild side effects such as a sore or stiff neck or back, and you should avoid vigorous exercise after your session. It is also important to drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins from the body. Fortunately, these side effects should not last more than a day or two. Regular chiropractic and massage sessions, combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, can prevent injuries in the future and keep you moving well.