Are you suffering with chronic pains, joint stiffness or tense muscles? A trip to the chiropractor or a session with a massage therapist could be exactly what you need to start feeling like you again.
Pain and discomfort can hinder your daily activities, making it difficult to enjoy your day to day life and complete regular tasks. Both chiropractic care and therapeutic massages can help to alleviate some of that stress, getting you back on your feet again.
To find out more about each of these treatments, keep on reading our complete guide!
Comparing Chiropractic Care & Massage Therapy
Before making any kind of decision regarding your health, it’s important to know and understand the treatment you are choosing. This way, you can get the most out of your treatment by having realistic expectations and understanding the relevance of the treatment with your condition. We’ve created a thorough breakdown of both chiropractic care and massage therapy to help you get to grips with each treatment.
How Do I Know If I Need One Of These Treatments?
Everyone’s situation is totally unique, which makes it difficult to know exactly what kind of treatment you need. One of the best ways to work out what kind of treatment you need is to identify what kind of pain you are experiencing, if possible.
If your pain feels like a muscular issue or you are experiencing a lot of tension, then massage therapy could be the treatment that you need. And if you’re experiencing more joint and spinal problems, this may be a sign that a visit to the chiropractor is in order.
If you feel like you can’t identify what kind of pain you’re experiencing, a quick trip to the GP will help you figure out what the problem is and recommend the best course of treatment.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a non-invasive approach to healthcare which focuses on the body’s musculoskeletal system. Specialists (chiropractors) will use their hands to apply a controlled force to joints or the spine in an attempt to improve motion in the spine. Common problems that people visit a chiropractor for could include lower back pain, headaches and neck pain.
Chiropractic adjustments can be extremely helpful when carried out by a professional, however there are some risks to bear in mind:
- Herniated discs could be a potential problem, chiropractic treatments could worsen this condition
- Compressing nerves is also another risk associated with chiropractic care
- If you have an increased risk of having a stroke, bone abnormalities or severe osteoporosis, it is advised that you don’t seek out chiropractic care because it can negatively impact these existing conditions.
The Procedure
Luckily, you don’t need to prepare before your chiropractic procedure, as it is non-invasive and should be a relatively pain free experience.
A typical chiropractic procedure will involve a specialist asking about your health history as well as your current health concerns and why you are visiting the chiropractor. They may also recommend some additional tests or scans such as X-rays to help you deal with your condition.
Your chiropractor will target specific areas to help alleviate your aches and is very effective as a back pain treatment. This usually involves sudden force to the target areas, allowing your joints to reach their full range of motion.
The aim of these treatments is to encourage the body’s natural ability to heal itself, so don’t be put off if you aren’t feeling amazing straight after your session or seeing immediate results. You may feel extremely tired after a chiropractic session or experience headaches however this is just a minor side effect of your chiropractic care.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is used to target a patient’s muscle tissue in order to alleviate aches and pains. Massage therapists use massages to manipulate the muscle tissue in a specific area of the body, using a combination of oils and lotions to help with pain and improve the immune system. Massage therapy can include a range of different massages such as sports massage techniques, deep tissue massage, pregnancy massages…etc. You can visit our website to read more about our massage therapies.
Some of the common reasons people decide to visit a massage therapist is because of long periods of stress or tension. A limited range of motion, lack of sleep and headaches can be valid reasons to go for a therapeutic massage. Massage therapy is often used for fibromyalgia treatment, which is a musculoskeletal condition causing both joint pain and muscle fatigue. Body massage can alleviate some of the painful symptoms, however it can’t fix the condition.
While it can be extremely beneficial for chronic conditions and relieving tension, there are things to be mindful of when it comes to massage therapy:
- It can be a common misconception that massage therapy is a relaxing activity, however these procedures are focused on improving physical well-being.
- It’s important to remember that your massage therapist is targeting specific areas to help with a condition, and the massage may involve some mild pain or discomfort.
- If you haven’t experienced massage therapy for pain before, they can potentially make you feel fatigued and nauseous however this is completely normal.
The Procedure
The massage procedure is very simple and nothing to be worried about. After going over your medical history and your needs, your massage therapist will ask you to lay on the table in a private room.
They will then apply the appropriate lotions or oils to ensure free movement for the strokes of the massage. Depending on the area or condition they are targeting, they will tend to the relevant body part.
Your massage therapist may be using relatively forceful techniques, removing knots and applying pressure to certain areas of your body, so prepare yourself for some mild pain during the procedure.
After your massage therapist has finished with the session, getting up off the table should be done carefully and slowly. You might feel dizzy or a little lightheaded, however this is nothing to worry about, just ensure that you take time when getting up after your session.
It can also take a few days or even a few sessions for you to start reaping the rewards of your massages, so be mindful that immediate pain relief is not a bad sign.
What About Combining Treatments?
You may be wondering if you can combine your massage therapy with chiropractic adjustments, and in short, yes. Combining these two treatments can be extremely effective in providing maximum relief to a patient’s pain or discomfort. This is because:
- You are using more than one way to alleviate pain and tension. By using two therapies which complement each other so well, you are doing the most to ensure that your aches and pains are being treated.
- Physically, your body will thank you for combining these treatments. You may notice improvements in your flexibility and better immune system health. Your central nervous system will also improve its function over the course of your chiropractic care and massage therapy. Your central nervous system is the system that pain signals travel through, and improving the health of this system can alleviate those aches and pains.
- Having massage therapy before a chiropractic session can be extremely useful. Kneading movements from your massage will help to relieve tension in your muscles, essentially preparing it for your chiropractic adjustments, These adjustments can actually end up being more long-lasting if you use massage therapy beforehand.
- You may be able to reach your health and fitness goals a lot sooner by combining these two procedures. With the longer-lasting effects and complementary nature of each of these treatments, your body may improve at an accelerated rate.
Chiropractors In Exeter: Therapeutic Massages & Quality Chiropractic Care
If you’re looking for quality chiropractic care or effective therapy massage, Country Chiropractic & Wellness Centre offers a multitude of options to help you feel like yourself again.
To read more about our services, head to our website or get in touch today to speak to our team directly.