Back pain has become a common issue like a cold or a cough. To your shock, this widespread problem has been affecting 30% to 40% of the world's population with chronic back pain. This could be a result of today's sedentary and screen-heavy lifestyles.
If the discomfort starts to interfere with day-to-day tasks, it is natural to ask, “Should I see a chiropractor or get a massage?” At the same time, you don't want to waste time or spend time on a solution that won't show results.
If you are in a dilemma, whether to visit a chiropractor or a massage therapist, find this guide by your side to get yourself heard and find an answer to it.
Think of It This Way…
First things first, prior to making any decision, you need to understand what the problem is. For example, be sure to check if you are experiencing pain in your back or neck. Having that clarity, start learning about how a specific treatment may help you.
To make research easier for you, we've explained how these treatments differ from each other.
Chiropractic care is like aligning your car's tires. Similarly, when the spine is out of alignment, it affects the functionality of the whole body. For that reason, a chiropractor in Madhu Vihar or any other location works on the bones, joints, and spinal alignment to improve nerve function and relieve pain at its source. To be specific, their care aims to support strength, mobility, and faster recovery from injury.
Massage therapy, on the other hand, is like maintaining the body's functionality. In that sense, massage therapy soothes the muscles and promotes flexibility. In layman's language, massage therapy focuses on muscles and soft tissue to relieve tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation.
What's the Difference?
Here's a closer look at how chiropractic care and massage therapy differ in terms of method, focus, and benefits:
Method
A chiropractor can use different techniques and methods to treat a patient. For instance, they can use:
➔ The Diversified Technique: Chiropractors use hands-on thrusts with extreme precision.
➔ Spinal Mobilization: A therapist relieves pressure on joints to reduce inflammation and improve nerve function.
➔ Thompson Drop-Table Technique: A table having a padded platform is fitted with drop mechanisms. After that, a patient is “dropped” a fraction of an inch when a therapist applies a quick thrust.
➔ The Gonstead Adjustment: While a patient is sitting up or lying on their side, a chiropractor manipulates the lower back or pelvis.
➔ The Activator Method: An activator administers a gentle impulse to the extremities or the vertebral segments of a spine.
➔ Flexion Distraction: Distracts and flexes the spine in a gentle rhythmic motion.
➔ Spinal Decompression: A spine is stretched to promote a flow of water, oxygen, and other essential fluids into the discs.
Massage therapy involves the body's soft tissues using oils or lotions for comfort and effectiveness. The main methods of massage therapy include:
➔ Effleurage: Uses a smooth, gliding stroke to relax soft tissue.
➔ Petrissage: Includes squeezing, rolling, or kneading that follows effleurage.
➔ Tapotement: A tap done with cupped hands, fingers, and the edge of the hand.
➔ Friction: Includes a deep circular movement that allows layers of tissue to rub against each other.
Focus Area
The focus of chiropractors is the neuromusculoskeletal system and targets the spine, joints, and nervous system. With spinal adjustments, they correct subluxations, the culprit of pain, stiffness, or nerve issues.
On the other hand, a massage therapist has therapeutic goals like relieving pain, reducing muscle tension, and promoting relaxation with kneading, pressing, and rubbing the body's soft tissues.
Conditions Treated
Chiropractic care is effective in chronic back or neck pain, sciatica, herniated discs, postural issues, and headaches caused by spinal tension. Whereas, massage therapy is best for muscle soreness or tightness, stress-related tension, circulatory issues, and general relaxation.
Duration and Frequency
Chiropractic sessions are shorter than massage therapy. A chiropractic session lasts for 15–30 minutes and may be more frequent, especially during the early stages. A massage session lasts for 45–90 minutes without addressing any structural misalignments.
Final Thoughts
In the end, both therapists aim to help you feel better, just in different ways. A chiropractor focuses on correcting spine and joint alignment, and on the other hand, massage helps relax tight muscles and ease stress.
If it's from poor alignment, chiropractic care might help more. Sometimes, combining both gives the best results. The most important thing is picking what makes your body feel cared for, comfortable, and pain-free, because we all want to move and live without constant aches that hold us back.
