Medical Benefits of Massage
Chiropractic and Massage Therapy
Back pains, neck pain and headaches are just a few of the painful and distressing conditions that affect most of us at some time. Chiropractic and massage therapy, a combination of powerful healing approaches that address your pain at many levels. Whether your pain is the result of a traumatic injury, physical or postural job stress, or anxiety stress, chiropractic and massage combined can greatly speed your return to a pain-free productive life.
Chiropractic care for your pain
Both long-term continuous muscle tension and sudden impacts, such as work strain from lashing, driving a UTR, sitting all day at a computer, a fall or car accident can pull and hold your joints out of normal alignment. These minor misalignments can disrupt your nerve transmissions, especially in the spine, which houses nerves affecting the entire body. The result is pain or other symptoms such as numbness or tingling, both at the site of the misalignments and frequently at related sites elsewhere in the body.
Your chiropractor uses adjustments to return your joint is normal posture and restore joint mobility. Often this restores balance within your body allowing a return to optimal pain-free health.
Soft tissue components of your pain
Joint misalignments, troublesome enough on their own, are almost always accompanied by tension or injuring your soft tissue: muscles tendons, ligaments and fascia, (connective tissue of your body). Soft tissue pain can actually spread because it causes protective muscle tightening and surrounding areas. Over time, tight, inflamed muscles and fascia, suffer poor circulation and can develop glue like a myofascial adhesion which prevent muscles from lengthening completely. Painful trigger points can also develop, often referring pain or tingling to other areas of the body. In extreme cases tight muscles can compress nerves.
Why soft tissue is important
Addressing soft tissue problem is an important complement to chiropractic care. This is because muscles move joints, while ligaments and fascia support them. The subluxation is adjusted without addressing related soft tissue problems you may still experience pain. In addition, your tight muscles and shortened fascia can pull your joints have alignment again.
Massage for healthy soft tissue
Massage therapists use a variety of techniques to address soft tissue problems. Gentle kneading and stretching lengthens contracted muscles and fascia. Techniques such as sustained pressure, ice massage and stretching can release trigger points. Painful sprains and strains, as well as mild fascial adhesions can be addressed directly with massage techniques that improve circulation and stimulate healthy separation and realignment of injured fibers. In general massage increases circulation. This reduces painful swelling and inflammation and promotes healing. By removing waste products and bringing nutrients to the tissues like sponge absorbing water, muscle begins to soften and lengthen.
Maintaining everyday good health
Both massaging chiropractic offer preventive care to support your ongoing good health and well-being. A timely visit to your chiropractor can reestablish a normal alignment and mobility before secondary soft tissue problems develop.
Regular massage can release chronically contracted muscles and fascia improving the balance among muscle groups and promoting helpful circulation. Your body will be more resilient in the face of daily work stresses, less prone to injury.
Finally, massage triggers the body's relaxation response, interrupting a cycle of stress and muscle tension that can build in response to life's challenges.
Your total well-being is the goal
Massage and chiropractic are compatible holistic therapies that share the goal of your total well-being, not simply an absence of illness. Both offer natural hands-on drug-free technique. They can be used as prevention as well is restored to therapies. Both were to resolve the cost of your pain, rather than treat the isolated symptoms. Using combination, they can help you maintain your optimum health and enjoy life to the fullest.
Prevention
Talk to your doctor about a preventive program of care. Dr. Wilkerson will help you design a customized prescription of care for optimal measured functional outcomes. One massage a week may feel good, but you may need more to achieve the desired result. Make sure you schedule time for yourself!
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Back pains, neck pain and headaches are just a few of the painful and distressing conditions that affect most of us at some time. Chiropractic and massage therapy, a combination of powerful healing approaches that address your pain at many levels. Whether your pain is the result of a traumatic injury, physical or postural job stress, or anxiety stress, chiropractic and massage combined can greatly speed your return to a pain-free productive life.
Chiropractic care for your pain
Both long-term continuous muscle tension and sudden impacts, such as work strain from lashing, driving a UTR, sitting all day at a computer, a fall or car accident can pull and hold your joints out of normal alignment. These minor misalignments can disrupt your nerve transmissions, especially in the spine, which houses nerves affecting the entire body. The result is pain or other symptoms such as numbness or tingling, both at the site of the misalignments and frequently at related sites elsewhere in the body.
Your chiropractor uses adjustments to return your joint is normal posture and restore joint mobility. Often this restores balance within your body allowing a return to optimal pain-free health.
Soft tissue components of your pain
Joint misalignments, troublesome enough on their own, are almost always accompanied by tension or injuring your soft tissue: muscles tendons, ligaments and fascia, (connective tissue of your body). Soft tissue pain can actually spread because it causes protective muscle tightening and surrounding areas. Over time, tight, inflamed muscles and fascia, suffer poor circulation and can develop glue like a myofascial adhesion which prevent muscles from lengthening completely. Painful trigger points can also develop, often referring pain or tingling to other areas of the body. In extreme cases tight muscles can compress nerves.
Why soft tissue is important
Addressing soft tissue problem is an important complement to chiropractic care. This is because muscles move joints, while ligaments and fascia support them. The subluxation is adjusted without addressing related soft tissue problems you may still experience pain. In addition, your tight muscles and shortened fascia can pull your joints have alignment again.
Massage for healthy soft tissue
Massage therapists use a variety of techniques to address soft tissue problems. Gentle kneading and stretching lengthens contracted muscles and fascia. Techniques such as sustained pressure, ice massage and stretching can release trigger points. Painful sprains and strains, as well as mild fascial adhesions can be addressed directly with massage techniques that improve circulation and stimulate healthy separation and realignment of injured fibers. In general massage increases circulation. This reduces painful swelling and inflammation and promotes healing. By removing waste products and bringing nutrients to the tissues like sponge absorbing water, muscle begins to soften and lengthen.
Maintaining everyday good health
Both massaging chiropractic offer preventive care to support your ongoing good health and well-being. A timely visit to your chiropractor can reestablish a normal alignment and mobility before secondary soft tissue problems develop.
Regular massage can release chronically contracted muscles and fascia improving the balance among muscle groups and promoting helpful circulation. Your body will be more resilient in the face of daily work stresses, less prone to injury.
Finally, massage triggers the body's relaxation response, interrupting a cycle of stress and muscle tension that can build in response to life's challenges.
Your total well-being is the goal
Massage and chiropractic are compatible holistic therapies that share the goal of your total well-being, not simply an absence of illness. Both offer natural hands-on drug-free technique. They can be used as prevention as well is restored to therapies. Both were to resolve the cost of your pain, rather than treat the isolated symptoms. Using combination, they can help you maintain your optimum health and enjoy life to the fullest.
Prevention
Talk to your doctor about a preventive program of care. Dr. Wilkerson will help you design a customized prescription of care for optimal measured functional outcomes. One massage a week may feel good, but you may need more to achieve the desired result. Make sure you schedule time for yourself!
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Types of Massage
1) Swedish Massage Therapy
This is the most common type of massage therapy in the United States. It is also known as Swedish massage or simply massage therapy. Massage therapists use long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil. Swedish massage therapy can be very gentle and relaxing. If you've never had massage before, this is a good one to try first.
2) Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage is massage therapy with the addition of one or more scented plant oils called essential oils to address specific needs. The massage therapist can select oils that are relaxing, energizing, stress-reducing, balancing, etc. One of the most common essential oils used in aromatherapy massage is lavender. Aromatherapy massage is particularly suited to stress-related conditions or conditions with an emotional component.
3) Hot Stone Massage
Heated, smooth stones are placed on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centers in the body. The massage therapist may also hold stones and apply gentle pressure with them. The warmth is comforting. Hot stone massage is good for people who have muscle tension but prefer lighter massage.
4) Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. The massage therapist uses slower strokes or friction techniques across the grain of the muscle. Deep tissue massage is used for chronically tight or painful muscles, repetitive strain, postural problems, or recovery from injury. People often feel sore for one to two days after deep tissue massage.
5) Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a form of Japanese bodywork that uses localized finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence on acupuncture meridians. Each point is held for for two to eight seconds to improve the flow of energy and help the body regain balance. People are normally pleasantly surprised when they try shiatsu for the first time. It is relaxing yet the pressure is firm, and there is usually no soreness afterwards.
6) Thai Massage
Like shiatsu, Thai massage aligns the energies of the body using gentle pressure on specific points. Thai massage also includes compressions and stretches. You don't just lie there--the therapist moves and stretches you into a sequence of postures. It's like yoga without doing any work. Thai massage is more energizing than other forms of massage. It is also reduces stress and improves flexibility and range of motion.
7) Pregnancy Massage
Also called prenatal massage, pregnancy massage is becoming increasingly popular with expectant mothers. Massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage know the proper way to position and support the woman's body during the massage, and how to modify techniques. Pregnancy massage is used to reduce stress, decrease swelling, relieve aches and pains, and reduce anxiety and depression. The massage is customized to a woman's individual needs.
8) Reflexology
Although reflexology is sometimes called foot massage, it is more than simple foot massage. Reflexology involves applying pressure to certain points on the foot that correspond to organs and systems in the body. Reflexology is very relaxing, especially for people who stand on their feet all day or just have tired, achy feet. Learn more about reflexology.
9) Sports Massage
Sports massage is specifically designed for people who are involved in physical activity. But you don't have to be a professional athlete to have one-it's also used by people who are active and work out often. The focus isn't on relaxation but on preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance. A combination of techniques are used. The strokes are generally faster than Swedish massage. Facilitated stretching is a common technique. It helps to loosen muscles and increase flexibility.
10) Back Massage
Some massage clinics and spas offer 30-minute back massages. If a back massage is not expressly advertised, you can also book a 30- or 40-minute massage and ask that the massage therapist to focus on your back.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.