Massage Therapy in Flat Rock, MI
At Porter & Clark Chiropractic in Flat Rock, MI, our mission is to alleviate your pain and stiffness using all the methods at our disposal, and one of the most effective ways of doing that is with massage therapy. Like most people, you probably think of chiropractic treatment as all about relieving back pain by manipulating the spine, and you’d be right, as far as it goes. In reality, chiropractic medicine is a holistic discipline that focuses on treating the whole body to promote general good health and well-being in our patients.
Many of our patients come to us with conditions that can be successfully treated with spinal manipulation along with doing exercises, changing lifestyle and work habits, and adopting a well-rounded diet. Therapeutic massage can also be used to great effect for relieving pain, relaxing muscle tension, and promoting faster healing of injuries. When you’re searching for a Flat Rock chiropractor to provide you with relief from your symptoms, call Porter & Clark Chiropractic first.
What Is Massage Therapy?
Massage has been used for thousands of years throughout the world to treat medical disorders and promote good health. The practice has evolved and improved over the years, and today there are more than 80 different styles of massage therapy in use, many developed for specific purposes and areas of the body. Licensed practitioners of massage therapy have been trained in the various muscle groups, ligaments, and nerve bundles in the body and how they relate and interact with each other. They utilize various movements using both their hands and fingers and sometimes the elbows and forearms to rub, press, poke, push, and manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of a patient’s body. This brings about, not only immediate release from pain, stress, muscle tension, and a feeling of relaxation, but also has been shown to be effective in long-lasting relief.
What Are the Benefits of Massage Therapy?
Therapeutic massage has been shown to have many health benefits beyond just relaxation and stress relief. Studies have shown that it is effective in treating back and joint pain and giving relief from the symptoms of arthritis, relieving the frequency and intensity of chronic headaches and migraines, and fighting depression and anxiety. It has also been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of its treatment by reducing nausea, swelling, and fatigue and by boosting the immune system.
Types of Massage Therapy
Although, as mentioned above, there are many types of therapeutic massage, these are the primary styles.
- Swedish – This is the most popular and common type of massage therapy. It focuses on the upper layers of muscles, using long, slow, soft stroking movements along with kneading and light tapping. It also uses manipulation of the joints. Patients describe feeling both deeply relaxed and energized at the same time after a session.
- Deep Tissue – Muscles can get tight, tense, and stiff after long hours of sitting in the same position, such as when driving or bending over a laptop. Deep tissue massage focuses on specific areas using slow, hard pressure to get below the surface and deeply into the muscles, tendons, and tissues. This is especially useful for alleviating pain and stress in areas that are regularly under tension and for muscle injuries.
- Sports – This style of massage therapy is quite similar to deep tissue massage except that it focuses on the muscle groups that are used by athletes playing specific sports. It is used during training and also before, during, and after events to loosen muscles and increase circulation to help prevent injury and promote flexibility.
- Pregnancy – This type of therapeutic massage can help alleviate all the unpleasant and stressful changes that the body undergoes during pregnancy, including relieving muscle and joint pain and reducing the swelling of arms and legs. Most practitioners use specially designed pillows to help pregnant patients get into a comfortable position during a session.
- Lymphatic – This style is focused on increasing the circulation of lymph fluids throughout the body. These fluids serve to collect waste, bacteria, viruses, and other impurities from your system and carry them to be flushed out of the body. It is characterized by light, long strokes along the skin over the lymph channels.
Porter & Clark Chiropractic in Flat Rock, MI, can provide you with massage therapy and many other treatments to help you feel better and get more enjoyment from life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
