Massage and Chiropractic Care Address Chronic Pain

Feeling stressed? Struggling with chronic back or neck pain? A combination of chiropractic care and massage therapy may be just the ticket you need for less stress and long-lasting pain relief. If you’re new to chiropractic are or massage therapy, it’s natural to wonder how these treatments complement one another and – most importantly – how they can make a difference for your health. Here’s what you need to know:

Our Harrisburg Chiropractor Answers Your Questions about Massage Therapy & Pain Relief

#1: How does massage therapy relieve pain?

Our licensed massage therapist is specially trained to treat chronic pain and stress through therapeutic massage. Our therapist uses a variety of different massage styles, including deep tissue massage and myofascial release, to release tension trapped deep within the muscles. When the muscles become tense, they contract and shorten, limiting your body’s natural range of motion and exacerbating chronic pain. Massage therapy releases this tension from the muscles, helping them lengthen and relax, which relieves pain.

#2: How does massage therapy relieve stress?

When our bodies are stressed, they are overloaded with cortisol, a stress hormone associated with weight gain and inflammation. Not only do we feel anxious, but our physical health also suffers. Massage is an important mind-body therapy that helps to balance out cortisol levels by increasing endorphin levels. Endorphins are the body’s natural “feel good” chemical. With increased endorphins and lower cortisol levels, we feel less anxious and are less likely to suffer from low-grade illnesses.

#3: How does massage therapy complement chiropractic care?

Our Harrisburg chiropractor frequently recommends massage therapy as a complement to chiropractic care for enhanced pain relief. Chiropractic care restores proper alignment to the musculoskeletal system, which alleviates nerve compression and pain. Massage therapy complements adjustments by addressing muscular tension. Even when the spine is properly aligned, if the muscles remain tense, patients will still suffer from restricted mobility and pain. Since massage therapy releases this tension, this treatment is very beneficial for long-term pain relief.

Have you tried massage therapy before? Share your experience!