For most people, the idea of getting a massage means going to a relaxing spa, where serene music is playing in the background and scented candles create a pleasant aroma. There is no doubt that experiencing a massage in that type of environment can leave you feeling refreshed and full of energy. However, some of you might not realize that massage therapy is a regularly available form of treatment provided by licensed specialists that can help patients who are experiencing a wide array of ailments.
Understanding The Positive Impact of Massage Therapy
While there isn’t a necessarily any kind of negative association between massage therapy and someone’s overall health, there is certainly a lack of knowledge when it comes to just how impactful the treatment can be for someone. Whether you’re looking to treat a specific condition, or simply want to help relieve stress, massage therapy is a reliable and effective method of treatment available to patients at their local chiropractic office.
What Are The Different Kinds Of Massages Available?
Massage is an overarching way of talking about the pressing, rubbing, or manipulating of a patient’s muscles, skin, or tendons, or ligaments. However, there are actually different types of massage therapy, and each can serve a different purpose for patients.
Deep Tissue
In this technique, the therapist will use slower but more forceful strokes to directly target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue (hence the name).
Trigger Point
More common for patients with specific injuries, trigger point massage therapy focuses more on areas that have been impacted by injury or overuse. The technique isolates areas of condensed muscle fibers that can form in those injured muscles.
Swedish
Probably the most well known form of massage therapy, this is a much gentler approach than deep tissue. With long strokes, delicate kneading, vibration, and tapping, this type of massage therapy aims to relax and energize you.
Sports Massage
More in line with a Swedish massage, but with a bigger focus on addressing sports related injuries or injury prevention.
What Ailments Can Massage Therapy Help Treat?
As a purely holistic method of treatment, massage therapy can actually help patients experiencing a wide variety of symptoms. Since it is categorized as being part of alternative medicine, more patients are seeking it out because it doesn’t involve the consumption of any chemicals that might have adverse side effects. This helps promote and encourage a more well-balanced, healthy lifestyle for patients. Below are some of the conditions that massage therapy can treat:
- Pre-natal pain
- Headaches
- Sports Injuries
- Carpal Tunnel
- Tendonitis
- Scar Tissue
- Plantar fasciitis
- Fibromyalgia
- TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction)
- Lymphatic Draining
Besides the specific conditions above, massage therapy helps to increase a patient’s blood flow throughout their body. This leads to reduction in pain (especially if it targets something like lower back pain) and can increase muscles’ range of motion. Additionally, increased blood flow will impact the lymph node in such a way that it can actually help boost the body’s immune system.
Contact Your Local Chiropractor To Find Out If Massage Therapy Is Right For You
If you want to learn more about how massage therapy can impact your health, you should be contacting your local chiropractor and inquiring about the various services they offer. They’ll be able to provide additional insight about the different techniques they specialize in, and help determine if massage therapy is right for you.