Optimizing Your Health: Combining Chiropractic Care and Deep Tissue Massage
Chiropractic with massage. At first glance, it may seem obvious that chiropractic care and deep tissue massage are very different types of treatment. But then, when you stop to think about it, actually putting those differences into words can be surprisingly tricky. They both involve a licensed practitioner guiding you through various movements, stretches, and exercises to relieve pain and tension. So which is better? And why would you ever want to alternate between both of them?
There are a lot of nuances when understanding how these two hands-on therapies help patients relieve chronic pain and muscle tension. But with a basic understanding of how they fit into holistic treatment plans, you can make a more informed decision about what steps to take to improve your mobility, vitality, and overall health.
Chiropractic Care vs Deep Tissue Massage: What’s the Difference?
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions, primarily related to the spine. One of its foundational principles is that misalignments and subluxations affecting vertebrae and the rest of the spinal column often lead to health problems throughout the body. To fix them, chiropractors use carefully studied techniques to restore proper spinal function, alleviate pain, and enhance the body’s natural healing ability.
Deep tissue massage, on the other hand, targets the body’s soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, and fascia. So while many of its end goals are the same as chiropractic care (reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and restoring flexibility), it focuses on specific problem areas all over the body. You can think of it like this: chiropractic care looks for the structural origin of the problem, whereas deep tissue massage works with areas where the symptoms of that deeper problem manifest.
Chiropractic and Deep Tissue Techniques
Chiropractors use their hands or specialized tools to apply controlled force to the spine to restore normal joint motion, reduce nerve irritability, and improve overall spinal function. You can read our guide, Chiropractic Techniques: Gonstead, Diversified, And 5 Others, to learn more.
Deep tissue massage techniques typically involve sustained pressure, deep kneading, or friction applied to specific areas of the body. Unlike other massage techniques, which primarily focus on relaxation, deep tissue massage targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to address chronic muscle tension and adhesions, acute soft tissue injuries and areas of pain or stiffness.
By applying firm pressure and slow strokes, deep tissue massage breaks down knots, releases adhesions, and improves blood circulation to promote the healing process. This type of massage is often recommended for individuals with chronic pain, limited mobility, sports injuries, car accidents, work injuries, or postural imbalances. It can help alleviate muscle tension, increase range of motion, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall physical well-being.
What Conditions Can Each Approach Treat?
Chiropractic care is most effective for addressing conditions such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, and joint dysfunctions. It can also provide relief for individuals suffering from conditions like sciatica, herniated discs, and musculoskeletal imbalances. Chiropractors assess the spine and nervous system to identify misalignments and abnormalities and tailor adjustments to suit individual needs.
Deep tissue massage, at least as a standalone treatment, is beneficial for chronic muscle tightness, postural imbalances, repetitive strain injuries, or sports-related injuries. But when these two therapies are combined in a single treatment plan, they become much more effective than the sum of their parts.
Benefits of Chiropractic Massage Therapy
Chiropractic care and deep tissue massage work together to provide full-body musculoskeletal care. Although chiropractic care and deep tissue massage focus on different parts of the body, both approaches reinforce the body's ability to heal itself. When the spine is properly aligned, it's easier to work the surrounding muscles and soft tissues. And when deep tissue massages focus on breaking down scar tissue, muscles become more pliable, allowing the chiropractor to achieve better alignment and increasing the likelihood of sustained results. It’s a match made in heaven.
After an injury or prolonged muscle strain and tension, the body begins trying to repair the affected tissues. But healing slows down significantly when something gets in the way of that process, like scarring, swelling, or pinched nerves. Deep tissue massage gets things back on track by increasing blood circulation to the affected area, promoting the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to damaged areas.
But combining these two treatments does is not exclusively for reactive care. When you pair ongoing chiropractic adjustments with deep tissue massages, you can build up strength and stability that help prevent the development of musculoskeletal imbalances, reduces the risk of injuries, and promotes optimal nerve function. Together, chiropractic care and deep tissue massage work in tandem to keep you fortified against whatever life throws at you. And if you’re concerned about losing mobility and flexibility as you age, pairing these two treatments is one of your best bets.
Another important aspect of deep tissue massage that should not be overlooked is its tendency to reduce stress levels drastically. Anything that makes you feel rested and at ease has positive effects on pain management, sleep quality, and overall health. Ultimately, this means combining chiropractic with massage ensures patients feel physically and emotionally better.
Where Can I Find A Massage Therapist Chiropractor In Maple Grove?
Since it’s not hard to find a chiropractor in Maple Grove and Plymouth MN that offers both of these services, most of your time should be spent vetting potential clinics. If you’re considering Total Spine Health & Injury Center, scan through our 137 five-star reviews on Google or our staff bios to better understand the kind of service we’re known for.
When you’re ready to put together a chiropractic + deep tissue massage plan customized to your wellness goals, schedule a consultation appointment!