MASSAGE THERAPY & CHIROPRACTIC CARE

You can benefit in a number of ways by adding massage therapy to your chiropractic care program. Recovery is normally faster and more complete when you address both the skeletal and muscular components of your misalignments. Chiropractic treatment often proceeds more easily, when soft tissue has been relaxed with massage. You may be less anxious and more ready to receive chiropractic adjustment after a relaxing massage. Adjustments frequently last longer when muscle tension is released that might otherwise pull your joints out of alignment again.

Soft Tissue Components of Your Pain

Joint subluxations, troublesome enough on their own and are almost always accompanied by tension or injury in your soft tissue: muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. Soft tissue pain can actually spread because it causes protective muscle tightening in surrounding areas. Over time, tight, inflamed muscles and fascia (together called myofascia) suffer poor circulation and can develop glue-like myofascial adhesions which prevent muscles from lengthening completely. Painful trigger points can also develop, often referring pain or tingling to other areas in the body. In extreme cases, tight muscles can compress nerves just as painfully as a subluxation.

Why Soft Tissue is Important

Addressing soft tissue problems is an important complement to chiropractic care. This is because muscles move joints, while ligaments and fascia support them. If a subluxation is adjusted without addressing related soft tissue problems, you may still experience pain. In addition, your tight muscles and shortened fascia can pull your joint out of alignment again.

Maintain Everyday Good Health

Both massage and chiropractic offer preventive care to support your ongoing good health and well-being. A timely visit to your chiropractor can reestablish normal alignment and mobility before secondary soft tissue problems develop. Regular massage can release chronically contracted muscles and fascia, improving the balance among muscle groups and promoting healthful circulation. Your body will be more resilient in the face of daily stresses, less prone to injury and subluxation.