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Massage or Chiropractic?
When there is tension in the body around the spine it can be hard to figure out if you need a massage or a chiropractic visit. Both release muscle tightness but through different ways. The key is to find the underlying cause…
What does massage do?
Massage will rub or compress muscles to squeeze any toxins like lactic acid out of the muscle, and to increase blood flow to the muscle. This is great for relaxing the muscle. It also stimulates movement receptors which can lead to a reflex relaxation of muscles. If the muscle tension is from stress, or over-working the muscles, massage can help. BUT if the muscles have not been over-used, you’re not aware of any stress, or the problem persists, there may be a restricted joint causing the muscle tension.
What does chiropractic do that’s different to massage?
The primary tool of a chiropractor is not massage but adjustments/manipulation to release restricted joints. If spinal joints become jammed, the local muscles will tighten up to protect the area, so massage alone will not be sufficient. We always need to address the underlying issue and if stuck spinal joints are the cause of the muscle tension, releasing them is the only thing that will relax the muscles. Chiropractors use gentle manipulation to free up restricted movement in the spine. How long it takes to free up restricted joints depends on how long the problem has been there.
The cause of tight muscles and joints in the body
The cause of jammed joints is quite different to the cause of tight muscles. Tight muscles are usually from over-working the muscles—in the form of excessive exercise, or holding the muscles tight from stress or cold. But stuck joints tend to come from poor posture, lifting badly, or maintaining positions which hold the spine out of the neutral position form prolonged periods of time.
What exactly does a chiropractor do?
Stefan Becker
Chiropractor in Barcelona
