How Massage Therapy Goes Along with Chiropractic Care

If you're in chiropractic care, it's clear you care about your spinal and musculoskeletal health. But did you know that receiving regular massage therapy alongside routine chiropractic adjustments can greatly improve your overall health and wellness? 

This is why you'll often see a chiropractor and a massage therapist working out of the same building or complex. And at HealthQuest, LLC, we offer both out of our Murray office. Please feel free to give us a call at any time to learn more about the two types of care and how they can contribute to your overall health, but in the meantime here's some useful information to know:

Massage Therapy and Chiropractic Care Complement Each Other

They're different types of treatment, and yet they work so well together. Chiropractic care focuses largely on the spine and its alignment within the body (especially in relation to the skull and hips). So many people suffer from spinal misalignment and don't even know it, yet they experience a variety of pains throughout the body that stem from it. Your chiropractor uses safe, hands-on techniques to manipulate the spine into place and address certain issues.

Meanwhile, massage therapy addresses the muscles and tendons. Similar to spinal misalignment, underlying problems with these areas can cause a variety of pains and health problems that can otherwise be fixed. Tight muscles can also get in the way of good chiropractic care, making it difficult for the spine and other bones to stay properly aligned. Your massage therapist also uses manual manipulation to work the muscles and provide you with much-needed relief. 

Together, massage therapy and chiropractic care can provide you with pain relief, better circulation and better overall movement. 

Types of Massage

There are various types of massage techniques, and it is important to know each one in order to determine which one may be best for you. Consulting with your chiropractor (and/or your massage therapist) can help. Here's an overview:

• Swedish Massage - This traditional massage style focuses on increasing blood flow and proper circulation to the muscles. While best known for its relaxing and comforting properties, it can still help increase the benefits and effectiveness of chiropractic care.
• Trigger Point - If you have specific areas of pain or pressure, this form of massage can work to address those areas and provide relief.
• Deep Tissue - This type of massage can be used as an overall method or on specific areas. With this type, the massage therapist will focus on targeting the deep layers of the muscle tissue to loosen them up and provide better movement. 

Interested in learning more? Contact the Murray office at HealthQuest, LLC today!