Let’s Take a Look at the Differences Between Massage Therapy vs Chiropractor

Over a fifth of the U.S. adult population suffers from chronic pain. That’s over 50 million people living with regular discomfort — and it’s not just physical.

In 2011, Dr. Beth Murinson developed a groundbreaking course at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to explore this concept. Murinson is a clinical neurologist, professor, and one of the country’s top-rated pain specialists.

During the course, students learned how pain takes an emotional as well as physical toll on patients. They conducted an activity where students stuck their hands in a bucket of ice. After the activity, students completed reflections on the experience.

Many students expressed surprise at the emotional and mental distress that came with the exercise. They reported experiencing anger, frustration, and even a reduced ability to think. The implications are remarkable. A nation in such physical pain also faces significant challenges to mental and emotional well-being.

If this describes your experience, know that you are not alone. The good news is there are plenty of non-surgical options for managing pain and discomfort. Two of the most common remedies for pain are massage therapy and chiropractic care. Both involve an individualized approach to treating dysfunctions in the body structure.

Through these treatments, the patient can experience reduced pain and tension and greater well-being. But what exactly is the difference? By understanding massage therapy vs chiropractor care, you can make the best decision about your body. When your body feels better, you’ll find your daily life improves too.

Unique Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

Until recently, most people thought of therapeutic massage as a luxury one might seek out while on vacation. Massage therapy indeed is a great treat when you need a little relaxation. Yet many other benefits can come with even a single session on the table. For example, research shows that even a 15-minute massage can lower blood pressure and cortisol, the hormone associated with stress. Imagine what an hour or even 90 minutes could do!

If you need more than an opportunity to destress, you can find a licensed massage therapist with expertise in your particular concern. More and more consumers are seeking out massage therapy for specialized pain management. Their pain might stem from cancer treatments or pregnancy-related physical changes. Others may be looking for help recovering from an injury or even reducing migraines. These are all issues that can stem from damage in the soft tissues – the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your body.

A certified massage therapist is trained in various techniques that increase blood and oxygen flow in the muscles. This promotes stronger muscles and relieves the kind of tension and stiffness that leads to pain and stress. The methodical pace of this touch also relaxes the mind and body, promoting deeper breathing and a decrease in anxiety and tension.

While you can immediately feel these kinds of benefits, most people aren’t aware of the cumulative perks that last beyond the session. People who receive regular massages report improvements in major areas of life. This includes sleep, digestion, and even memory.

Should I Go to a Chiropractor or Get A Massage?

There are many things to gain from therapeutic massage. But what does a chiropractor do that massage can’t?

First, it is important to understand the difference. While massage therapists focus on attending to the soft tissues in the body, a chiropractor focuses on hard tissues. This refers to the musculoskeletal structure of the body made up of your bones.

This distinction is important, especially when considering whether your pain has built up gradually or occurred after an injury.

It’s also possible that the root cause of your pain is an issue of misalignment, damage, or some other dysfunction in the structure of your hard tissues. Without addressing the root cause, any attempted remedies for pain will deliver limited results – even when administered by an expert.

When visiting a chiropractor for the first time, they will work with you to identify the underlying cause of your discomfort. Sometimes, they will do an x-ray to identify where the issue is coming from. From there, a chiropractor can determine whether your pain relates to the bone structure or the soft tissues.

Once the chiropractor can identify the underlying cause of your pain, they can help you determine an individualized plan to address it. This treatment plan involves chiropractic adjustments, exercises, and other methods to reduce pain. Goals of treatment could include improving range of motion or improving your joint’s ability to extend to its full length.

Finally, a successful treatment plan will include preventative measures to ensure long-term treatment success. This may include therapeutic massage.

Massage Therapy vs Chiropractor – Why Not Both?

Understanding the difference between massage therapy and chiropractic care does not mean you have to choose one or the other. Combining the two can often reinforce and increase the effectiveness of either treatment.

For example, say you have a pinched nerve caused by disc degeneration in your spine. Lifestyle behaviors like poor standing posture or sitting all day at a job can make this pain worse. Thus, a chiropractor would be the best candidate to improve these structural problems.

Working to restore mobility in the affected joints creates more space between – and thus less pressure on – the discs. But this kind of degeneration often causes referred pain and muscle tension to other areas of the body. This kind of cyclical pain and tension can make a full recovery more challenging.

In these cases, a combination of chiropractic care with massage may be appropriate. Together, these two therapies may help you achieve longer-lasting, more complete results. Remember, when it comes to your body, everything is connected! Addressing the hard tissues can make attending to the soft tissues much more effective.

Find Out Which Option is Best for You

Now that you know the various benefits that come from both massage therapy and chiropractor care, it’s time to invest in yourself! Don’t let aches and pains linger so long that they start to rule your life. Faces Spa has a wide variety of massage services, so call us today at: (402) 384-8400 When you feel better in your body, you will feel better in your day-to-day life too!