What’s the Difference Between Massage Therapy and Chiropractic Care?
Trying to find relief from chronic pain or the wear and tear of daily life can be difficult. Who should you turn to for help?
With so many options available that promise pain relief and relaxation, it becomes difficult to tell the truth from spam. Often, the question of massage therapy and chiropractic care gets included in this discussion.
What’s the difference between the two? How can I tell which I need? In reality, there are rather stark differences between chiropractic care and massage therapy. Both are incredibly beneficial treatments, but in reality, they are even more useful together.
Chiropractic Treatment
Visiting a chiropractor is about much more than simple adjustments. A chiropractor is a highly skilled individual who has the ability to make medical diagnoses when analyzing ailments of the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system is composed of bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissue that provide form, stability, and motion to the body. When investigating the source of your pain, a chiropractor can request x-rays and blood work to determine what’s going on beneath the surface of the skin and affecting the function of the nervous system, as well as general health.
Chiropractors focus most of their practice on spinal health, as it is a significant component of the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors believe that when the spine is aligned correctly, the nervous system will also operate to its full potential. This means there won’t be any pesky pain or fatigue, and general performance will be increased.
Preventive Chiropractic Treatment
The attention to the nervous system by chiropractors is crucial in preventive care. The nervous system controls every cell and organ in your body, so when the structure supporting it — the spine — is out of whack, your body will pay the price. Why wait until you’re experiencing pain or illness to treat it properly?
Chiropractic treatment aims to prevent illness and disease, by keeping your nervous system in prime health. Rather than attempting to reverse symptoms once they’ve already reared their head, by attending chiropractic appointments on a regular basis you can drastically improve the function of your immune system and prevent the onset of pain.
How Chiropractic Treatment Helps?
How is this possible? Chiropractors utilize gentle manual treatments such as spinal adjustments and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation. These procedures allow the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. In fact, chiropractic care has been proven to be beneficial for those suffering:
- Osteoporosis
- Sciatica
- Back and Neck Pain
- Headaches
- Scoliosis
- Asthma
- Insomnia
- Digestive Disorders such as IBS
Though they will not prescribe drugs or offer surgery, chiropractors are medical professionals who will treat a variety of ailments.
Massage Therapy
While massage therapy can be incredibly beneficial, as well as relaxing, paying a visit to a massage therapist will not result in any medical diagnosis for your pain. In fact, a massage therapist is not qualified to draw any medical conclusions, nor can they request medical imaging, such x-rays, or blood work to help aid the source of your pain.
Similar to chiropractors, massage therapists place a focus on manipulating soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system, such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. However, massage therapists are not licensed to perform spinal adjustments or adjustments to any joints. Therefore, where they can relieve tension in the muscles and tendons, they cannot alter the spine to benefit the nervous system. This means that while the therapy can be useful, it will not aid in preventive care.
Massage therapy can be useful for a variety of health issues, including:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety and Depression
- Headaches
- Back and Neck Pain
- Tense Muscles
Massage therapy can prove to be incredibly beneficial if you’re experiencing general fatigue, or your body has been feeling tense.
Do I Need Both?
The beauty of chiropractors and massage therapists is that they’re fantastic on their own, but even better together. If you’re experiencing pain you require a diagnosis for, or perhaps an ailment like a herniated disc, a chiropractor will be the only option of the two that can properly realign your back and request any medical testing necessary. However, massage therapists are highly trained in manipulating the soft tissue of the musculoskeletal system that can require dedicated visits to relieve stress.
While a massage therapist cannot make medical decisions, after visiting a chiropractor your doctor may recommend you see a massage therapist for further relief in the deep tissue. Oftentimes you won’t have to go far, as many chiropractors have massage therapists at their locations. In fact, it’s very common for your chiropractor to advise receiving a massage before and after an adjustment.
If you’ve been experiencing pain in your neck or back, or have acquired symptoms that have made it difficult to enjoy life the way you used to, highly consider visiting a professional. A qualified chiropractor can point you in the right direction, as well as get you in contact with a massage therapist if necessary. Stay up-to-date with your spinal health — your body will thank you.
