Why Massage Therapy Works Best When Combined with Chiropractic Care
Many, if not the majority, of chiropractic offices can be more accurately described as wellness centers. This is due to the fact that there is usually far more going on at the location than just chiropractic care – there may be physical therapists, personal trainers, health educators, acupuncturists, and/or massage therapists present as well. Among these listed healthcare professions, the service most commonly paired up with chiropractic care is massage therapy.
But why?
Therapeutic massage is highly effective when combined with chiropractic care because both complement one another to treat both muscular tension and skeletal imbalances.
Here Are Some of the Ways in Which Massage and Chiropractic Care Assist Each Other:
Relaxing Tight Muscles Prior to Adjustments
Massage therapy releases tight muscular tissue and increases blood flow, which makes it easier for chiropractors to perform spinal adjustments and soft tissue mobilization. Loosened muscles relieve joint restriction and therefore reduce resistance, which permits more effective and comfortable adjustments.
Enhancing Structural Alignment
Chiropractic care corrects misalignments of the spine and joints. When hyper-contracted muscles are treated with massage (be it before or after a chiropractic adjustment), it encourages the maintenance of these corrections by reducing the muscular imbalances and tension that could potentially pull the spine out of alignment.
Quickened Recovery Time and Pain Relief
Therapeutic massage encourages faster healing by improving circulation, decreasing inflammation, and alleviating pain. When combined with chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy can speed up the recovery process from injuries and chronic pain conditions such as sciatica or tension headaches.
Nervous System Regulation
Both massage therapy and chiropractic care stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (also known as the “rest and digest system”, which helps to reduce stress and improve sleep quality. Chiropractic care impacts the nervous system directly through spinal alignment, while massage therapy reduces cortisol (stress hormone) levels.
Maintaining Health Benefits
Reaching optimal health shouldn’t be a destination – it should be a journey. We can relieve muscle pain and realign the spine, but our activities of daily living make it nearly impossible to keep the body in its best shape without self-care. Regular utilization of both types of therapy can improve posture, flexibility, joint range of motion, and body mechanics for the long run. Massage therapy and chiropractic care assist each other not only to remedy symptoms but to additionally prevent future issues by improving musculoskeletal balance.
Now You Know!
As I always tell my own patients, you want your recovery journey to go from a corrective project to a maintenance project. Maintain your mobility, posture, strength, and every other aspect of your physical health by incorporating regular bodywork into your health plan!
Support your long-term health with massage therapy and chiropractic care!
Katrina Jenkins
Author, Licensed Massage Therapist
Katrina Jenkins graduated from Towson University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and worked as a nurse’s aide briefly before pursuing her true passion. She graduated from the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado in April 2016 with honors and completed the Touch of Healers Scholarship Program the following summer. She has been a part of the Moyer Total Wellness Team since the summer of 2017.
Resources
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AMTA (2021). Wellness Through Structural Integration. [online] American Massage Therapy Association. Available at: https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/structural-integration-primer/ [Accessed 16 Jul. 2025].
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Gevers-Montoro, C., Provencher, B., Descarreaux, M., Ortega de Mues, A. and Piché, M. (2021). Clinical Effectiveness and Efficacy of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Spine Pain. Frontiers in Pain Research, 2(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2021.765921.
McCubbin, T. (2017). Complementary and Alternative Medicine in an Integrated Health Care Delivery System: Users of Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and Massage Services. The Permanente Journal, PMCID: PMC5528844(PMID: 28746026). doi:https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/16-172
Photo Credit
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