Chiropractic or Massage Therapy?
/Do I go to a Chiropractor or Massage Therapist?
I get asked this question often when people are unsure what treatment would help them. My answer in a short-term sense is always ‘Have you tried one of them prior and had success with a similar problem?’ If so, it makes sense to go back to what has helped in the past initially.
The long-term answer to that question is BOTH!
When there is an injury, from either a specific known trauma or micro-trauma from repetitive postures and activities, a few different anatomical structures may be affected.
If a muscle is tight, that could be one of the areas causing dysfunction and pain. This may cause decreased range of motion making things feel stiff and tight. If a joint is restricted and not moving well, it may also decrease range of motion and make the area feel stiff and tight. Therefore, it makes sense to treat both areas! Due to attachments of muscles, if a muscle is tight it will directly affect the surrounding joints. And if a joint is restricted, it will not allow the proper movement of the muscle resulting in its dysfunction as well.
Here is an example using the trapezius muscle (the main muscle bulk of your shoulder).
The trapezius attaches to the base of your skull, ligament of your neck, and the spinous processes of your mid back (the part of your spine that you can feel). It also attaches to the collarbone, the tip of your shoulder and the top of the shoulder blade. Now that you know where that muscle attaches, it makes sense how much a tight trapezius muscle can impact a spinal joint; or how much a restricted joint can impact a trapezius muscle!
Treatment often involves Chiropractic and Massage Therapy services. With both treatments, we can create an encompassing treatment plan to ensure all affected areas are treated properly.
So next time you are thinking Chiropractic or Massage Therapy, start with the one you are most comfortable with and have had success with in the past, and then be open to other therapies that may be suggested.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our massage clinic in Niagara Falls!