Should You Get a Massage Before or After Seeing the Chiropractor?

Many of us have to put up with some form of pain or discomfort as we try and live our normal lives. Whether it’s through spinal dysfunction or muscle tension, it can put a lot of strain on our bodies and leave us feeling incredibly sore.

Fortunately, there are some very effective treatments available. Massage therapy, for example, is focused on treating the soft tissues of the human body. On the other hand, chiropractic adjustments are designed to treat misaligned joints such as your spine or neck.

Both options can treat that strain you’ve been dealing with, and when combined together, delivers a whole host of benefits! But this raises the question: Which should you have done first?

See a Chiropractor First, Massage Therapist Second

If you have bad muscle tension or joint pain that requires regular chiropractic adjustments, you should consider having a massage following your treatment. Once your chiropractor has realigned your joints into their correct position, that same tension can misalign them once again.

A massage will keep your muscles relaxed and in a neutral state so a proper alignment will make sure they stay in their right place for a longer period of time. Not only that, but it feels amazing. You may feel really sore after getting a chiropractic adjustment, so there’s nothing quite like getting a refreshing a soothing massage!

See a Massage Therapist First, Chiropractor Second

Now we get to the other option. Say you constantly deal with tight muscles, then it may be a really smart idea to have a massage before going in for an adjustment. After all, if you notice that tightness is close to the joints your chiropractor has to focus on, that could interfere with their treatment. That’s why receiving a therapeutic massage can clear the way for them to access your joints easier.

The thing is, while those chiropractic adjustments you receive should be rarely painful or uncomfortable, any muscle spasms or tightness you experience may cause pain in the middle of the procedure. This is particularly helpful if you are seeing a chiropractor the first time – a massage can help you relax beforehand.

Whichever order you decide to go with, a combination of the two can be an amazing way to relieve your pain and improve your overall quality of life. Of course, if you are unsure of which you should pursue first, you can always ask your therapists. Or hey, give both a try and see what works best. Have you seen any results from either arrangement? Please share your thoughts and feelings in the comments below!

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