How Does Massage Therapy in Birmingham Work?

Here at Back on Track Chiropractic, we offer massage therapy in addition to chiropractic care. If you've had a massage before, maybe you've thought of it as a way to relax. Massage has a lot of benefits for your body; find out how it helps you heal after an injury. 

Styles of Massage

There are many styles of massage. Some of the most common types of massage you'll encounter are: 

• Swedish massage - A classic, push/pull style 
• Sports massage - This focuses on the muscle recovery response for athletes of all levels 
• Deep tissue massage - Ideal for releasing tension held deep in your tissue
• Prenatal massage - This is tailored for pregnant women 
• Trigger point therapy - Focusing on connective tissue rather than muscles, this restores your mobility

While they differ in terms of the experience, ranging from more therapeutic to more vigorous, their wellness benefits are comparable. 

How Does Massage Therapy Work? 

Massage therapy provides physical relief for aches and pains, plus emotional relaxation. In a massage, your blood pressure will decrease, as will your physical tension. 

As we rub soft tissue, this releases nerve pressure in deep tissue. If you suffer nerve pain, this can help. The tissue is flooded with a supply of fresh blood, so injuries can start to heal naturally.

We often recommend massage for soft tissue injuries, such as auto accident injuries. When performed before chiropractic, massage can "warm up" the musculoskeletal system so we can make a deeper adjustment, relieving more of your pain.  

You might know that you feel better after a massage, but not understand why. During the massage, our massage therapist relieves compression of nerves, reduces tension in muscles, and positively affects your nervous system. Your nervous system functions optimally after the massage, so it's better able to regulate everything from muscle health to mind-body balance. As your mind starts to relax, your brain releases more serotonin. You'll feel better when you get up from the massage table and may see a long-term decrease in stress levels. 

Get Massage Therapy in Birmingham

After reading all about the benefits of massage, would you like to get massage therapy in Birmingham? Request an appointment online, or give our chiropractic clinic a call at 205-623-5782.