Did you know that chiropractic care and massage work very well together? This combination may not be as beloved or well-known as the chocolate and peanut butter one, but it’s just as complementary! In fact, combining these two treatments can actually increase the effectiveness of both. A Hilliard, OH chiropractor discusses this perfect pairing below.
Differences
Many people think of massage as a personal treat. It’s definitely a great way to soothe aching muscles! Chiropractic care, on the other hand, focuses on issues with joints and misalignments. Or, to put it more simply, massage deals with the body’s soft tissues, while chiropractic centers on hard tissues. Both treatments offer many of the same benefits: they soothe pain, improve circulation, relieve tightness, and improve flexibility and range of motion.
A Perfect Pair
Why do massage and chiropractic care work so well together? The reason is actually quite simple: your bones and muscles also work in tandem, to the extent that one won't really function correctly without the other. Think about it: Strong muscles can’t properly move a broken bone. Likewise, intact joints won’t move properly if the muscles surrounding them are damaged. Plus, your muscles run on signals that come through your nerves, by way of your spinal cord. Chiropractic adjustments give those nerves a clear ‘line of communication,’ helping the body function correctly. Additionally, massage loosens stiff muscles, which makes chiropractic adjustments easier.
Benefits
There are some very impressive benefits of using massage and chiropractic care together. You may see nervous system function, accelerated healing, increased range of motion, improved flexibility, reduced inflammation, and/or better circulation. These benefits may also last longer when using both massage and chiropractic care, as opposed to just doing one. Ask your chiropractor for more information.
Scheduling
There's no set rule as to whether massage should come before chiropractic care, or vice versa. Some people feel that chiropractic treatments work better after a massage. This makes sense since, as mentioned above, massages relax tight muscles. Others simply find it more relaxing to have their massage after a chiropractic treatment. It's worth mentioning that there's usually no issue receiving the treatments back to back, regardless of what order you schedule them in. Ask your chiropractor and masseuse for specific advice.
Do you need to schedule a massage or chiropractic appointment? Call us, your Hilliard, OH chiropractic clinic today!