Massage Therapist vs Chiropractor: What’s the Difference and Which Should You See?

What’s the difference between a massage therapist vs chiropractor? Which one is right for you? Read on to find out!

If you suffer from aches and pains that won’t go away, your first move should be to contact a professional. According to the National Health Interview Survey, more than 20% of American adults suffer from chronic pain.

It becomes challenging to determine which professional will be most beneficial to you though, a massage therapist or a chiropractor. When there are so many similarities between the two, it’s can be hard to choose. 

The two professions are the similar in many ways, but there are significant differences too. Read on so you can figure out whether you need to see a massage therapist or a chiropractor. 

What Is a Massage Therapist and What Do They Do?

A massage therapist relieves pain by applying pressure to soft tissues and muscle groups. It is not the intention of a massage therapist to treat pain related to the spine, joints, or tendons. Their ultimate goal is to stimulate the muscles. 

Massage therapy is a form of alternative medicine, and the practice dates back thousands of years. Through writings, it appears in many ancient cultures. Some of these ancient civilizations include Egypt, China, India, and Greece.

The goal of a massage therapist is to help their patient relieve stress. Another goal is promoting health and wellness throughout their body. The professional will apply different pressures and techniques help relieve the body’s aches and pains.

What Are the Benefits of Seeing a Massage Therapist?

There’s been a lot of research on the benefits of receiving massage therapy. These include:

• Relieving chronic pain
• Helping people heal from sport injuries
• Reducing stress
• Improving sleep
• Minimizing the effects of anxiety and depression
• Improving in muscle and joint health
• Enhancing a regular exercise routine

When you see a massage therapist for the first time, they will ask some questions. They will ask about your medical history, symptoms, and desired results. They will also perform a touch evaluation on the affected area to determine the amount of pressure you need. 

What Is a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor focuses on treating pain within a patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system. The system includes your bones, nerves, tendons, and ligaments.

By adjusting the spine to maintain good alignment, chiropractors help treat back and neck pain. Chiropractors also consider the body’s self-healing ability and include other treatments such as diet and exercise.

Chiropractors believe that when the neuromusculoskeletal system is functioning properly, other parts of the body will follow suit. So, as well as the affected areas, they will examine the muscles and joints surrounding them to make sure they are functioning correctly.

What Are the Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor’s primary goal is to improve the function of your bones, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. Below are some additional benefits you may get from seeing a chiropractor:

• Improvement in immune function
• More energy
• Better asthma control
• Improvement of breathing
• Lower blood pressure
• Improved balance, especially as one age
• Improvement of the digestive system
• Better quality of sleep
• A healthier pregnancy
• Better range of motion

As you can see, chiropractic treatment does not just focus on your spine and neck.

A study published in Pain Medicine in 2020 compared chronic spinal pain medication prescriptions for adults who visited either a chiropractor or their doctor to treat the condition. Those who chose chiropractic care reduced their likelihood of being prescribed opioids for their pain compared to those who only sawtheir doctor.

Massage Therapist or Chiropractor

The key thing to remember is that a massage therapist focuses more on the muscles to relieve tension and pain. Chiropractors focus more on your sine and surrounding nerves to relieve pain.

Before you receive treatment from a chiropractor or a massage therapist, it’s best to make an appointment with your physician first. Your doctor can examine your chronic pain symptoms and determine if the pain stems from muscle tension, spine problems, or nerve damage.

If your chronic pain links to spinal or nerve issues, your physician may recommend chiropractic care. You can also request a referral from your doctor to find a chiropractor or massage therapist whose services are covered by your insurance. 

Can I Combined Massage Therapy and Chiropractic Care?

Seeing a Chiropractor Before a Massage Therapy

By receiving chiropractic treatments before massage therapy, your adjustments will hold better within the spine. In addition, chiropractic care allows your joints to be positioned using a very safe and rapid adjustment.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are affected through the stimulation of endorphins. Therefore, changes within your systems will boost your pain level within your brain.

Chiropractors also advise their patients to receive a massage before their treatment. Due to poor access to the joints, it becomes difficult to adjust the joints when the muscles are tight. Also, you can receive the full benefits of chiropractic care by having a relaxing massage beforehand.

Massage Therapy Before Chiropractic Care

Yes, many chiropractors advise their patients to have massages done before seeing them. However, many still benefit from receiving massage therapy afterward. The massage allows the muscles to relax, thereby maintaining the improved alignment of the joints. 

It is best to have the massage after the chiropractic treatment for patients who visit the chiropractor frequently for recurrent joint problems. Joints keep their alignment better when they are more relaxed.

Depending on your condition, it might be best to see both a massage therapist and a chiropractor at the same time.

Looking for a massage therapist in Omaha, Nebraska? Contact Faces Spa today at 402-384-8400!