The Benefits of Chiropractic and Massage

Most people are familiar with and understand the concept of massage therapy. It is well known that this type of therapy works on the muscles and soft tissue structures of the body, and can either be relaxing or deep tissue. A lot of people are familiar with the art, science, and philosophy of chiropractic, but probably not as many. Chiropractors focus on the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves) to restore optimal health. This is done by working on the alignment of the vertebral column, or the bones in the spine. In essence, massage therapists work on the muscles and soft tissues, while chiropractors work on the alignment of the bones. Think about how well these very complementary techniques could work when done together! 

A chiropractic adjustment consists of the identification of misalignments in the spine (or elsewhere), and the realignment at this segment using hands or instruments. The muscles are also a part of this, as muscles attach to bones and vice versa. So, if a segment has been misaligned for say, 3 weeks, and then it is realigned...the muscle still has to heal. That is where the benefits of massage therapy come in. The muscle will heal on its own after some time, but utilizing massage therapy could greatly speed up this healing time. This is one example of how the tandem of chiropractic and massage therapy would be beneficial. Also, muscles are controlled by the nervous system and the messages that are sent by the brain down the spinal cord out through the nerves. Massage therapy and chiropractic work to reduce inflammation in the muscles and nervous system, and increase range of motion. All of this will allow for optimal function of the body and nervous system communication. 

While both chiropractic and massage therapy have their own benefits that are exclusive to them, one can greatly increase overall wellness by combining the two. To start enjoying the benefits of both chiropractic and massage, click here to contact your local chiropractor at Markson Chiropractic.