Chiropractic vs Massage Treatments

Are you amongst the many people who experience soreness and/or stiffness at the end of a long work day? Regardless of whether you have an active job that requires you to be on your feet, or a job that requires you to be sitting all day, our bodies can become tired and worn out by the end of the week.

Two of the best and most common forms of pain management for sore muscles and joints are chiropractic and massage treatments, which are generally covered under your group benefits program. Using your benefit program to cover the cost of treatment allows you to maintain your overall health and well-being with regular visits to your licensed chiropractor or registered massage therapist.

However, there is often confusion about which treatment is right for your needs. So how do we know which one is best? First things first, we should know the difference between the two practices:

Massage is aimed at solving muscular issues such as tension, spasms, or strained/pulled muscles. Massage therapy can also reach into your nervous system by helping fluids to move more freely throughout your body. While massage therapists cannot adjust your joints or prescribe medications, they can be a great source of holistic healing to relieve tension and make sure your body is performing at its full potential.

Unlike massage therapists, chiropractors are able to address the issues lying within your musculoskeletal and nervous systems. They can write prescriptions and provide rehabilitative exercises tailored to your specific needs. Chiropractic care is especially useful in helping with joint pain, headaches, insomnia, and neck or back pain.

To take your course of treatment one step further, you can combine the two practices to help with chronic pain. Massage therapy is a great way to warm up your body and ensure you are relaxed before going in for a chiropractic treatment; your chiropractic adjustment is more likely to last longer if your muscles are relaxed before. Similarly, your massage is likely to be more effective when your joints are properly aligned.

Both forms of treatment can bring relief to your body and help with your overall wellbeing, but we know they can be expensive when they are not covered by your insurance. If you have questions regarding coverage of these treatments, please talk to your plan administrator or call our office for the details of your extended health care coverage.

To read more about the benefits of chiropractic and massage treatments, please see this article.