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3 Healing Techniques Using Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy

The Why’s of Using Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a long-recognized treatment for sore, stiff, achy muscles. It relaxes the body and restores motion with as little as one treatment. But why do the healing techniques of massage therapy work?

Massage promotes blood flow to soft tissue deep under the skin. When injury or illness causes swelling in the muscles and tendons, an increase in blood flow reduces the swelling. It keeps the muscle warm and limber, which reduces stiffness, and it spreads healing properties to the areas of the body that need it most.

Another reason massage therapy works is therapeutic massage releases chemicals inside the body. Serotonin is often released by the brain during the massage. This powerful chemical not only boosts the mood, but it can also temporarily relieve pain.

Many experts also believe massage releases toxins, such as lactic acid. As the muscles and tendons are worked, toxins causing pain and swelling are pushed into the bloodstream where they can be filtered out naturally.

Combining Massage Therapy with Chiropractic Care

When you combine the healing techniques of massage therapy in Garden City, MI, with chiropractic care, you can improve overall healing and wellness. While massage therapy helps the soft tissue throughout the body, chiropractic care focuses on the nervous system and hard tissue—the joints and bones.

When used in conjunction you can relax the muscles, making them more pliable and limber during chiropractic adjustments of the nervous system. This proper aligning of the entire body will help maintain proper movement, as well as maintain the communication sensors throughout the body.

What types of therapeutic massage are available with chiropractic care

1. Lymphatic Massage

Lymph nodes and the lymphatic system are part of the body’s natural defense system. They work to rid the body of toxins by trapping them and moving them to the proper bodily filters, such as the liver and kidneys.

When the lymph nodes or lymphatic glands becomes swollen, it can prevent the lymph fluid from draining properly. Lymphatic massage reduces swelling and restores proper function to the system.

2. Myofascial Release

The myofascial tissues are located throughout the body. They surround the muscles and joints. This tissue commonly becomes inflamed and painful, in a condition called myofascial pain syndrome. Myofascial release is a massage therapy technique that works by applying gentle, sustained pressure to these tissues. The pressure naturally relaxes the tissue while it increases blood flow and reduces swelling and pain.

3. Sports Massage

Swelling, injury, and pain are common among athletes. Whether an injury has been sustained, or the vigorous athletic activity has caused natural swelling and discomfort, sports massage works deep in the tissue to maintain flexibility and promote healthy blood flow. Sports massage is performed with hard pressure and strokes. It is particularly helpful when combined with chiropractic care to keep the spine, hips, and shoulders properly aligned during athletic movements.

Science and history have proven the beneficial effects of massage and chiropractic therapy. When joined together, they work well in keeping the body in the best health possible.