Massage Therapy and Chiropractic Care

Massage therapy complements the therapeutic effects of spinal adjustments performed by a Chiropractor by relieving habitual patterns of tension in the soft tissue surrounding and supporting the skeleton. These patterns of tension are sometimes referred to as "muscle memory." To achieve more lasting results from a chiropractic adjustment, it is helpful to address symptoms of stress and injury found throughout the body that may be contributing to the problem. Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs) are trained to identify problem areas and relieve symptoms with a variety of massage techniques.

Soft tissue is composed of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and a thin sheath of connective tissue called fascia. Techniques employed by an LMT to address soft tissue tension or injury may range from gentle relaxation massage to more deep tissue work designed to break up scarring and adhesions. The benefits massage can achieve include the following:

• alleviate pain caused by tension


• soften and relax injured, tired, and overused muscles


• reduce muscle spasms


• increase joint flexibility


• improve range of motion


• improve circulation and the body's natural cleansing mechanisms


• enhance immune response by stimulating the lymph system


• provide pain relief from the physical stress of pregnancy, labor and birth


• loosen tissue adhesions caused by surgery or trauma to the body


• help the body recover from strenuous exercise


• relieve migraine headaches


• release endorphins and create a sense of well being.

The following describes some of the most common therapeutic massage techniques:

Swedish Massage - This is a gentle form of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to help relax and energize you.

Deep-Tissue Massage - This massage technique uses slower, more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It is commonly used to help with muscle damage from injuries and chronic patterns of tension.

Sports Massage - This is similar to Swedish massage but is geared toward people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries.

Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy - The word myofascial means muscle tissue (myo) and the connective tissue in and around it (fascia). When stressed or injured, muscles form trigger points, like contracted knots, that cause pain and tightness. This massage focuses on releasing tension held in these sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers that often cause radiating or referred pain.

Rolfing 簧 Structural Integration - Dr. Ida P. Rolf, a biochemist and Rockefeller University fellow, developed a system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education designed to organize the whole body to function optimally. A series of 10 sessions is typically recommended to achieve lasting changes in posture and structure by manipulating the body's myofascial system.

Active Release Techniques 簧 - ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART.

Thai Massage - This type of massage involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used in Thai massage.

Receiving massage therapy before or after a chiropractic manipulation helps the body release soft tissue tension that can either be caused by skeletal misalignment or may, by contracting and pulling on the skeletal system, be the cause of it. While caution must be taken to avoid overstimulating areas of inflammation, another benefit of massage is to encourage lymphatic drainage, which assists the body's own efforts to heal itself.