Massage Therapy
For about 4 years you have dealt with intermittent pain that extends from the back of your neck and under your right shoulder blade, down your arm and to your hand. The sensation lasts about 5 minutes and sometimes leaves your hand numb. Due to the fact that it was infrequent, you ignored the problem. A co-worker suggested a 45-minute appointment with a chiropractor. When you come into our office we may recommend a massage of the muscles surrounding your spine before and after the chiropractic treatment. This will facilitate faster and long lasting results.
The Effects of Soft Tissue Muscles are considered soft tissue. They surround our bones and nerves. At times, soft tissue can pull bones out of alignment. When your bones are out of alignment, the body begins to malfunction. Physical manifestations of body failure include pain, dizziness, headaches and over compensation. We recommend that you hydrate before you come in for your appointment. The body is 85% water. When you are not properly hydrated, the muscles become stiff and cramp. To provide sufficient treatment, the chiropractor will need your muscles to be placid and flexible. Start by drinking a gallon of water per day leading up to your appointment. Pre & Post Massage Therapy Our goal is to treat the source of the problem. We don’t chase the symptom. This requires that we prepare the body before chiropractic treatment. Often, the doctor will request that a qualified massage therapist warm up your muscles before she sees you. Once the muscles are limber and warm, the chiropractor’s techniques will be better received. After you see the doctor, we may request that the massage therapist conduct a post massage. This allows the adjustment to last longer. It also prevents muscle spasms. Massage therapy and traditional chiropractic techniques are two modalities that work hand in hand. Massage Therapy Technique There is a method to the madness. Massage therapy is not a trick to get you to spend more money. It is a scientifically proven technique designed to aid the human body. A trained and certified masseuse will work with your muscles. Just like you don’t want to work wood against the grain, the therapist will move her hand in smooth even strokes in direction of the muscles. She works the fiber tissue or muscle along the spine. Her goal is to move that tissue away from the spine to give the skeleton space to align itself without compression. Deep Tissue Massage There are many massage techniques that can be employed to speed up your recovery. Deep tissue massage is the most effective. The therapist will use the palm of her hands to apply just enough pressure to move the fascia away from the bone. She may even use her elbow to go deeper into the muscle tissue. This is why hydration is key. The less hydrated you are, the deeper she has to go into the muscle to yield the desired results. When the massage treatment is completed, your body will feel brand new. Many of our clients are convinced that we are miracle workers. |
Massage Therapy |