Massage therapy is more than a relaxing way to pamper yourself at a spa; it is also a proven method for pain relief and stress reduction. Massage therapy offers a safe and effective treatment for people suffering from chronic pain.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, affecting more people than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Chronic pain is the most common reason for an individual to seek medical treatment. Approximately 80 percent of physician visits are due to pain issues. Many physicians believe that chronic pain can often be managed through an integrative approach that includes massage therapy.
Conditions That Massage Therapy Can Help
Lower Back Pain
Research demonstrates that regular massages can help decrease lower back pain, reduce disability, and reduce the anxiety and depression that often result from chronic lower back pain.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Recent studies indicate that regular massage therapy can be an effective treatment option for fibromyalgia patients with muscle pain caused by the disease.
Postoperative Pain
Massage is a safe and non-drug approach to postoperative pain management. Recent research indicates massage therapy is beneficial in reducing pain, anxiety, and muscular tension in patients recovering from surgical procedures. Therapeutic massage has been found to be highly effective in eradicating surgery-related pain for many patients.
Cancer
Massage therapy can relieve pain, nausea, depression, anxiety, and fatigue and improve the quality of life for cancer patients. It’s essential to speak to your oncologist before beginning massage therapy, especially if you have had a recent surgery or are being treated with radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Arthritis
Research indicates that 60-minutes of Swedish massage therapy once a week significantly reduced pain in people with knee osteoarthritis. Research also shows that regular massage therapy can be highly beneficial for pain relief in adults with painful rheumatoid arthritis.
How Can Massage Therapy Do All That?
People who suffer from chronic pain often find that regular massage therapy sessions offer immediate relief. There are many types of massage, but the general benefits include the following:
- Deep relaxation and calmness
- Reduced stress hormones which promote well-being
- Release of endorphins which reduce pain
A therapeutic massage causes two important physiological responses in your body that can produce physical and emotional benefits resulting in pain relief without using over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.
The relaxation responses to massage do more than make you feel relaxed. Relaxation responses decrease your heart and breathing rates, lower your blood pressure, decrease the production of stress hormones, and help your muscles relax.
Massage helps reduce stress levels by releasing endorphins into the body. Endorphins are the chemicals in the brain that produce feelings of well-being as they activate areas throughout the nervous system. These same endorphins can act as natural painkillers and decrease inflammation.
The mechanical responses are the physical effects in your body when pressure is applied to the soft tissue increasing blood and lymph circulation. Relaxation of soft tissues results in greater pain relief than some patients can achieve with traditional pain medications.
Combining Massage Therapy and Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care helps find the underlying cause of pain and works to prevent it from recurring by using noninvasive therapies. When you combine regular chiropractic care with massage therapy, you will likely experience even greater and longer-lasting benefits than using either treatment on its own.
Massage therapy helps to relieve nerve pressure and, like, chiropractic adjustments, increases mobility and range of motion. Massage can help the body respond faster and more fully to chiropractic adjustments. Together, the two can enhance and restore mobility and reduce pain.
It’s important to discuss your medical conditions along with your health and wellness goals before beginning any new treatments. Your chiropractor can structure a therapy plan that fits your needs, considering your general physical condition, medical history, and pain level.
Call The Bluffs Chiropractic & Family Wellness Team
If you think massage therapy might be the right solution for you, call The Bluffs Chiropractic & Family Wellness team today. After a thorough assessment, we’ll develop an individualized treatment plan to meet your needs. Chiropractic care, along with regular massage treatments, can help improve joint movement and relax tight and spasmed muscles reducing the need for pain medication.
If you’re ready to take the next step in achieving relief and overall wellness, contact The Bluffs Chiropractic & Family Wellness team today. Dr. Joshua Lippincott has been serving patients for over 12 years and is passionate about helping people achieve their best possible health. Contact us online or call (636) 326-2525 to schedule your initial consultation.