Different Types of Massages
There are many types of massages and they vary in their goals and ability to alleviate chronic pain and discomfort. All massage techniques involve working on the soft tissues and muscles of your body to optimize the overall functioning of your bodily systems. The massage therapy offered at our clinic in Chatsworth, CA will enhance your sense of well-being and vitality. You can read below about some of the different types of massages we offer at our clinic located in close proximity to the heart of the San Fernando Valley.
Swedish Massage Therapy
Swedish massage therapy is often the most commonly known type of therapeutic massage. This technique relaxes the muscles through long, gliding strokes in the direction of blood flow back to the heart. This type of massage therapy also uses circular pressure, firm kneading, and stretching to relax your body and improve your nervous system function.
Deep Tissue Massage Therapy
Deep tissue massage therapy is similar to Swedish massage, although it utilizes a deeper pressure technique that will help relieve chronic tension in the muscles. Deep tissue massage therapy focuses on the deep layers of tendons, muscle, and fascia. Research has found deep tissue massage therapy reduces the stress hormone (cortisol) as well as your heart rate by triggering your body’s release of serotonin and oxytocin.
Sports Massage Therapy
Sports massage therapy is a specialty form of therapeutic massage designed for athletes of all types, including joggers, tennis players, soccer players, bicyclists, and football players. Sports massage therapy focuses on the areas of the body exposed to repetitive and aggressive movement that cause stress on these regions. Sports massage reduces recovery time for athletes, promotes flexibility, reduces fatigue, and boosts your endurance. An important benefit of sports massage therapy is its ability to target muscle-tendon junctions. Research has found that even a 30-minute targeted massage can boost the hip-flexor range of motion among athletes.
Pregnancy Massage Therapy
Pregnancy massage therapy is a special type of massage designed to relieve the aches and strain of pregnancy while causing no harm to the mother or the child. Pregnancy massage therapy is a safe and drug-free form of complementary medicine that reduces stress and promotes overall wellness for the pregnant mother as well as her developing child. This type of massage therapy will relieve the discomfort associated with your pregnancy, including headaches, edema, cramps, stiff neck, backaches, and sciatica nerve pain.
Prenatal massage therapy will also ease the stress on the weight-bearing joints in your body while you carry around those extra pounds added during pregnancy. This is a great way of improving your blood circulation and reducing nervous tension.
Massage Therapy & Chiropractic Care
Like mentioned above, massage therapy has proven beneficial effects on the nervous system, working to relax the nervous system without pain or side effects. When combining massage therapy with chiropractic services, it is typically done before your chiropractic treatment because the massage therapy assists in making the chiropractic adjustments more effective. The way it is able to do this is because the muscles in your body are often so stiff from chronic pain and spinal misalignment, that your muscles can try to resist adjustments, and massage relaxes those muscles allowing for more efficient care than when each service is performed exclusively by itself. By relaxing the body through massage first, Dr. Young will be able to assure your realignments are the most efficient at getting to the heart of your issue.
Massage is also beneficial for people who have a physical injury from something such as sports, a car accident, or any other activity. Massage therapy strengthens the immune system while improving blood circulation to help the body heal itself.
Chiropractic care and massage therapy are complementary forms of treatment that have the same goal: natural and complete well-being. Both can be used as either preventative or restorative medicine to help you maintain your health and live pain-free.
Why Combine Chiropractic Care with Massage Therapy?
Improved range of motion. A primary goal of chiropractic medicine is improving mobility and comfort. Massage can help improve mobility and flexibility of problem ligaments, muscles, and soft tissue to amplify the effects of chiropractic adjustments.
Easier adjustments. Massage relaxes the muscles and nervous system to make chiropractic adjustments easier and more successful.
Boosted circulation. Massage has been found to increase blood flow to affected areas. This can improve recovery from an injury and ease soreness of the muscles.
Patients who receive massage therapy in addition to chiropractic care often experience a faster and more complete recovery than through one service alone. The spine, as well as soft tissues and supporting structures, work together to function properly and this balance can be disrupted through physical injury or repetition injuries.
It’s also important to realize there is a difference between a massage you may receive at a spa and a massage performed at a chiropractic center. While a massage at a spa or salon may feel rejuvenating, you may notice the chronic pain returning in a matter of days. This is because the massage does not address the underlying cause of the pain. Therapeutic massage performed with medical knowledge by a chiropractor can address the heart of your pain and improve your recovery.
If you desire your body and mind to be at optimum health, you will find benefit through chiropractic care and/or massage therapy. Contact Chirofit, by phone at our Chatsworth 818-963-2291, email us at chiropracticfit@gmail.com, or stop in at our chiropractic clinic located at 9800 Topanga Canyon Blvd Ste E, Chatsworth, CA 91311 and schedule a consultation. Dr. Young will gladly help identify your primary areas of concern and determine the best course of action for your needs.