Should Elderly Patients See a Chiropractor?

It’s no secret that many seniors are living longer, healthier lives. According to The National Institue of Aging, over 49 million Americans are age 65 or older. There are more senior citizens in America today than at any other time in history. As Americans continue to age, and the senior citizen demographic grows larger, many will seek healthy, alternative practices to maintain an active lifestyle. One method over 5% of older adults use annually are chiropractors. For seniors, regular chiropractic care can reduce the symptoms of common, age-related ailments. If you or a loved one are considering chiropractic care to manage age-related diseases or conditions, read on to learn the benefits of senior chiropractic care. 

 

Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and Parkinson’s

 

Certain conditions, like arthritis, osteoporosis, and Parkinson’s, are brought about by senescence. While treatments and medications vary depending on the disease, the symptoms of all three diseases can be managed through regular visits to your chiropractor. 

 

Arthritis 

 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, 60% of adults over age 60 and 80% to 90% of patients over age 75 suffer from arthritis. Caused by inflammation and pain in the joints, arthritis is a debilitating disease that can reduce your range of motion and cause you to avoid physical activity. Thankfully, chiropractors offer a non-invasive, non-addictive treatment called chiropractic adjustments. According to The Joint, chiropractic adjustments “…reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body in an effort to reduce inflammation and improve the function of both the affected joint and nervous system. By increasing joint mobility and improving your nervous system function and spinal health, your body has the ability to better manage symptoms caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.” 

 

Osteoporosis 

 

Osteoporosis, or the loss of bone density as we age, can reduce your quality of life. While osteoporosis is more common in women, men can lose bone density as they age. To treat osteoporosis, chiropractors use chiropractic adjustments. In addition to reducing joint restrictions and misalignment, chiropractic adjustments also affect bone breakdown and replacement. A chiropractic adjustment stimulates the cells in charge of bone breakdown and replacement. So, when you schedule a chiropractic appointment, you’re not only improving your range of motion but the strength of your bones as well!

 

Parkinson’s 

 

Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating condition caused by damaged nerve cells in the brain. In turn, these damaged cells produce reduced amounts of dopamine, which leads to shaking, weakness, and loss of balance. To treat Parkinson’s, chiropractors perform gentle chiropractic adjustments on specific parts of the body to improve nerve function and decrease Parkinson’s painful symptoms. 

 

So, Should Senior Citizens See a Chiropractor? 

 

The short answer? Yes! Senior citizens concerned about their balance, range of motion, or who suffer from any of the above conditions see a chiropractor. Dr. Hartle at the Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic specializes in treating conditions through holistic practice and without the use of medication. Book a session with the Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic today to ensure you or your loved one will enjoy a healthy lifestyle for years to come!

Why Do Chiropractors Use Massage Therapy?

Chiropractic massage therapy is one of the most popular, alternative medicines in the United States. According to Consumer Reports, a study of over 34,000 people found that the majority preferred a deep tissue massage over conventional medicine to treat pain. It’s no wonder the chiropractic massage is so popular: a deep-tissue massage has been proven to treat a wide variety of ailments, including back pain, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis. To help patients manage pain and other issues, many chiropractors incorporate massage therapy into their practices. 

What is Chiropractic Massage Therapy? 

Chiropractic massage therapy combines two practices (chiropractic care and massage therapy) to create one discipline that focuses on easing sore muscles and quickly healing injuries. Treating the spine and the central nervous system is the focus of chiropractic massage therapy. Think of your nervous system as a car or truck – its job is to carry signals (both good and bad) throughout the body. And, like any other automobile, it may need repairs. This is where chiropractic massage therapy comes in – through minute, medical gestures, chiropractic massage therapy “fixes” the human body. This discipline “reminds” our bodies to perform their jobs and ensures that your central nervous system sends signals correctly. Through proper care and alignment, experts theorize that chiropractic massage therapy can prepare your body for whatever challenges life might throw in your way. 

What are the Benefits of Chiropractic Massage Therapy? 

Chiropractic massage therapy does more than relieve pain: it can also prevent pain throughout the body. Due to the many benefits of chiropractic massage therapy, many people seek chiropractic massage therapy to maximize their body’s ability to stay well. As an added bonus, this deep-tissue massage relieves tension, stress, headaches, and anxiety. 

What’s the Difference Between Chiropractic Massage Therapy and Massage Therapy?

Chiropractic massage therapy is a type of massage that focuses on the spine and body as a unit. It can realign vertebrae, treat discs, focus on low back pain, and relieve joint ailments. On the other hand, massage therapy focuses on alleviating tension, restoring flexibility, and increasing comfort. Massage therapy goes hand-in-hand with physical therapy and is often used to treat injuries. While massage therapy treats current pain, chiropractic massage therapy can prevent pain throughout the body.  

Can Anyone Administer Chiropractic Massage Therapy?

A chiropractic massage therapist must have a doctorate in chiropractic care. These doctorates are administered by the state and ensure that your chiropractor has knowledge of and can properly treat your musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems. Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic’s own Dr. Hartle is a certified chiropractic physician that provides chiropractic massage therapy. He also holds several other certifications and is a board-certified Clinical Nutritionist (DACBN), a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), an Active Release Technique (ART) provider since 1995. If you want to pursue an active and healthy lifestyle through the power of chiropractic massage therapy, schedule an appointment with him today!

How Sports Chiropractic Care Can Prevent Injuries

While sports are beneficial to our physical and mental health, they can take a toll on our bodies. According to the CDC, over 8.6 million people suffer from sports-related injuries in the United States. The lower body is more likely to be injured than the upper body: about 42% of injuries occur in the lower body, while 30.3% occur in the upper extremities. While these numbers might sound scary, there are plenty of ways to prevent injuries both on and off the field. 

What are the Most Common Sports Injuries? 

Strains and sprains are the most common injuries that occur while playing sports. Sprains happen when ligaments –  the tough, fibrous bands that connect to joints – are stretched too far and tear. On the other hand, strains are injuries to muscle fibers and tendons. Strains are common when athletes overstretch or overwork a muscle: the repeated stress causes tears in the fibers and tendons. 

According to The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States, one in five (or 26%) musculoskeletal injuries are sprains or strains. While such injuries are very common, they are preventable. Athletes should warm-up or stretch before intense physical activity. However, if stretching isn’t enough, a licensed chiropractor can be a valuable tool in the fight against injuries. 

How can Chiropractors Prevent Injuries? 

While chiropractic treatment is primarily used to relieve pain in muscles, bones, joints, and connective tissues, it also plays an important role in injury prevention. There are four ways chiropractors prevent injuries: spine alignment, fitness evaluations, posture restoration, and tension release.

Spinal Alignment 

Chiropractors typically prevent injuries and increase body functioning through proper spine alignment. Proper spine alignment has a wide range of benefits, including reduced injuries, increased range of motion, and faster recovery times. As a bonus, regular spinal alignment can reduce pain and help clients enjoy a healthy life for years to come. 

The Fitness Test

To prevent injuries, chiropractors typically conduct fitness tests. To better understand clients’ bodies and their risk of injury, a chiropractor will establish fitness levels. If there are any limbs or muscles that are susceptible to injury, a chiropractor will examine and address them. During a fitness test, the chiropractor will ask you to perform several simple movements that will test your range of motion. They may also perform a Straight Leg Test or a Psoas Muscle Test.

Posture Restoration 

Poor posture is often the result of a misaligned spine. This can lead to injuries, especially if the person is an athlete or participates in sports. While posture restoration can be fixed, it often takes multiple visits to the chiropractor’s office. To avoid unnecessary harm to your body, make sure to visit Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic to minimize spinal damage! 

Tension Release 

Many athletes sustain injuries through muscle tension. Left unchecked, muscle tension can reduce mobility and cause serious injuries. Luckily, chiropractors are experts at releasing tension. Through neck and spinal adjustments, chiropractors relax the body and improve blood flow. These techniques can reduce and even prevent injuries. 

If you’re looking to prevent common sports injuries, schedule a session with Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic today! Our team uses non-invasive methods to treat and prevent injuries. Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic will discover the underlying cause of your pain and help you pursue a healthy, active lifestyle. 

Three of the Best Weekend Trips in Fort Wayne, Indiana

With a population of 267,633, Fort Wayne is a diverse city known for its gorgeous parks and family-friendly atmosphere. As the second-largest city in Indiana, Fort Wayne has plenty of “must-do” experiences, including restaurants, golf courses, museums, and more! With such a wide variety of attractions, it’s easy to plan a short “staycation” that will take you out of the house. If you’re looking for the best weekend getaways in Fort Wayne, here are our top three destinations. 

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Located on Sherman Boulevard, The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is educational fun for the whole family! Split into five sections, The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo holds over 1,000 animals from all over the world. With over 40 acres to explore, there’s plenty of exciting exhibits to entertain and delight your children. Explore the grassy savannahs of the African continent or come face-to-face with the endangered orangutans. Experience the colorful Indonesian rainforest or discover the outback and learn about the life cycle of crocodiles! The zoo’s bright and friendly atmosphere earned it a spot on Trip Advisor’s Top Seven Zoos in the U.S. back in 2015 and a Traveler’s Choice Award in 2020. 

Foellinger-Friemann Botanical Conservatory

Founded in 1983, The Foellinger-Friemann Botanical Conservatory is a world-renowned greenhouse with over 25,000 square feet of indoor gardens. While the conservatory provides a safe haven for endangered plant species, it also hosts four changing showcases each year. The conservatory hosts a wide array of plant life – their greenhouse holds over 1,200 plants (or 500 species) and 72 different types of cacti. Their most popular gardens include: 

• The main Showcase Garden, with four seasonal exhibits.  
• A Tropical Garden which features waterfalls, goldfish, and 13 types of palm trees.
• The Desert Garden, which contains the Saguaro cacti, fishhook barrel cactus, and prickly pear cactus. 
• The Streetside Garden, where ornamental grasses and shrubs surround beautiful bronze statues. 

Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve

For aspiring hikers, boaters, and environmentalists, Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve offers a wide variety of activities in the great outdoors. Founded in 2005 with help from the federal Wetlands Reserve Program, Eagle Marsh was the site of the largest wetlands restoration project in Indiana. Today, the preserve is over 831 acres, with fourteen miles of extensive hiking trails. If you’re looking for a less intensive way to spend the weekend, Eagle Marsh is also a great place for bird watching and photography. The preserve boasts over 245 types of birds and 45,000 native trees and shrubs. 

Communing with nature is a proven method of stress relief. However, if hiking isn’t enough to relieve your everyday stressors, try massage therapy at Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic! We offer outstanding chiropractic, nutritional, and rehabilitative programs that will reduce stress symptoms. Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic also offers massage therapy services which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can reduce stress, minimize muscle tension, and alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain. Our office is fast, efficient, and provides same-day services.

Five Ways That Family Chiropractic Care Can Benefit You

One of the greatest aspects of chiropractic is how it can be modified and customized for each patient. Every family member can find ways to better their health, whether it be a young athlete building their strength, an older grandparent recovering their balance, or a parent lessening their recovery time. At Allen County Family and Sports Chiropractic, we’ve had years of experience treating Fort Wayne families, and we can provide you with specialized care. 

Not just for adults

Chiropractic is often associated with treating back pain, and while that is a major part of the practice, that’s just the beginning. Adults can underestimate how much strain a child’s body can undergo with constant growth, rough play, sports, and common accidents. Children are hard on their bodies! According to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, children can see these results from visiting with a chiropractor:

• Deeper and more consistent sleep
• Stronger immune system
• Improved behavior

Children may not recognize when something is wrong with their bodies, or they may not have the words to express their worries. This is why seeing a spinal expert can ensure healthy development. The spinal cord is full of nerves that connect throughout the body, so it is vital that posture and vertebrae are regularly corrected. 

Maintain youthful energy

We are all seeking ways to stay young, to continually improve our mental and physical health. But we cannot ignore the stress of day-to-day life, nor the exertion we inflict on our bodies in that quest. 

What achievements are on your bucket list? Running a half-marathon? Hitting a bench press PR? Maybe just playing a game of tennis without your wrist hurting?

As our bodies age and change, we need to be able to adapt our lifestyles and habits to be on the best path. Setting new goals gives us something to strive for, but those challenges also need to be realistic, and we need to be adequately prepared for them. A chiropractor can help point and correct misalignments or problems you may not even be aware of. 

Prevent and Treat Pain

Studies have reported up to 20% of Americans have chronic pain. While not all discomfort can be treated, chiropractic can help lessen the severity, or build up muscles around the place of injury. In a 2017 report, the American College of Physicians published that chiropractic is a method for treating chronic lower back pain. 

Not only can chiropractors help you recover from injury, but they can stop damage happening in the first place. Increasing your flexibility, familiarity with pressure, and nutrition can prepare your body for building up your strength, speed, and reaction time without harming yourself. 

Holistic, natural treatment

One of the most appealing aspects of chiropractic is how it is drug-free, and built around your lifestyle. Chiropractic doctors consider your medical history, past experience, lifestyle, and conduct a preliminary examination before performing any adjustments or providing advice. Bodily pain is often given a default answer of ‘medication’, which can lead to complications, side-effects, and unseen consequences. But with chiropractic, all treatment is personal, intrinsic, and designed to help encourage your body to perform. 

Call us today to learn how we can help you feel better, be more capable, and achieve new heights!

How Massage Therapy Helps with Chronic Pain

In the United States, 65 million Americans suffer from some episode of back-related pain recently in their lives. However, 16 million experience chronic pain, which interferes with their everyday activity. When pain takes over your life like that, you want to find a solution. For many victims, massage therapy is the answer. 

Massage therapy uses pressure and long strokes to relieve muscle-related pain in our bodies. Many of us use this type of treatment for those frustrating flair-ups or bouts of acute pain. We then enjoy massages that relieve our suffering until the next round while providing a relaxing environment. But what about chronic illness? 

Causes of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is different from acute pain because it’s long-lasting and not related to one particular episode. On the other hand, chronic pain develops from repetitive stress, trauma, or injury. Muscle overuse is a common cause of chronic pain. When this happens, tension builds up, and muscles can no longer relax. It’s almost as if they’re in a constant state of contraction.

Injury or trauma can also cause chronic pain. Many athletes manage pain when an injury or stress fracture occurs. It isn’t a quick, acute flair-up, but rather long-lasting due to the injury itself. 

Repeated positioning is another cause of chronic pain. This can be due to work, such as with professions that require you to sit or stand in one position. Over time, this creates tension and pain.

How Massage Therapy Helps

During massage therapy sessions, blood flow increases throughout the body, but most importantly, into the muscles. Circular movement and long strokes relax muscles and reduce tension, which brings back movement by enhancing the muscle tissues’ elasticity and flexibility. Add in relaxation techniques, and you have the perfect recipe to reduce pain. 

Muscle tension also impacts the bones and joints, which is why massage therapy partners well with regular chiropractic care. As chiropractors shift the bones into realignment, muscles will contract, and slowly your bones return to an incorrect position. By using massage to relieve that tension, your bones will stay in alignment for more extended periods, reducing pressure on joints, and pain.

Stress and Chronic Illness

Stress is an aggravator of chronic pain. When we feel anxious or stressed, our brain releases the hormone cortisol. Like a vicious cycle: pain causes stress, releasing cortisol, which exacerbates the pain even more. Massages are relaxing and can lower stress hormone levels. Aside from increasing blood flow and reduce muscle tension, massage can also help you feel better mentally, resulting in lower levels of pain.

Goodbye, Chronic Pain

When patients use massage therapy regularly, these techniques can reduce recurrent episodes of pain. This is true for any healing method — you can’t just do something once and get immediate results. To alleviate symptoms of chronic pain with massage, you must receive sessions regularly. Weekly or biweekly massages are an excellent place to start, and patients can reduce sessions to once a month or fewer once the pain begins to subside.

What Athletes Use Sports Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic services aren’t limited to just those who suffer from acute or chronic pain. Chiropractors use their techniques for specific issues on people of all ages and walks of life. But one of the most popular services is sports chiropractic, which can help boost athletic performance and prevent injury. There are many athletes and sports fields that utilize the methods of chiropractic care.

Sports Chiropractic Favored by Athletes

Do your favorite all-stars see a chiropractor? You may be surprised to learn many famous and successful athletes use sports chiropractic care to maintain and boost athletic performance. They also use it to:

• Enhance flexibility
• Reduce pain
• Increase recovery
• Prevent or lessen injury

All of these benefits are why stars like Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Arnold Schwartzenegger, and others relied on sports chiropractic care to help them achieve goals and win championships.

Benefits of Sports Chiropractic Care

Let’s dive a little deeper into some of these benefits so you can fully understand why these athletes — and many sports teams, including 32 NFL and 28 MLB teams — use chiropractors on-site.

Flexibility and Injury Reduction

Do your muscles ever feel tight, and your movement limited? This issue can be detrimental to an athlete. Not only will their athletic performance drop, but stiff, locked muscles and joints make them more vulnerable to injury. Chiropractic services focused on sports aim to enhance an athlete’s flexibility. By correcting alignment and encouraging movement in our joints, athletes can safely move and twist their bodies (and come into contact with others or hard surfaces) without the same risk of injury.

Enhanced Recovery Time

Nothing can prevent injury completely. Even if I ran behind Michael Jordan and checked him after every slam dunk, he could still suffer an injury! However, sports chiropractic services invigorate our body’s systems to speed up healing time when damage does occur. By aligning your spine and lessening the irritation and inflammation between the vertebrae, the body gets a significant boost that allows you to perform better overall. When your body is optimized, and the injury is less impactive, you shorten the healing time. 

Reduced Pain

Lastly, chiropractic services can assist athletes by reducing pain. Many athletes are just like you, and experience bouts of acute flareups or chronic pain. These conditions can be due to injury or strain, or directly from daily stress, lack of sleep, or dehydration. Athletes also suffer from things like headaches or neck and back pain. Traditional chiropractic adjustments correct misaligned or stuck bones and decompress joints.

Ice Baths, Heat, and Massage

Athletes can use other techniques to help with stressed bodies. You may see movies showing ice baths and heat applications to help relieve muscles, injury, and pain. Chiropractic services often include these techniques. Massage can be particularly healing, as it removes “knots” (aka tense muscle fibers and fascial tissues) to reduce trigger points and tightness. Massage can reduce pain and make your muscles more loose and agile.

Why We Offer Chiropractic Care in Fort Wayne, Indiana

At Allen County Sports and Family Chiropractic, we love providing fantastic chiropractic care in Fort Waye, Indiana. It’s our home, and we feel lucky to live and work in such a beautiful community. As chiropractors in Indiana, we believe that every town, city, and neighborhood should have exceptional chiropractic care, including family- and sport-focused.

When it comes to healthcare, you have a lot from which to choose. We feel honored to be your source of healthy, safe, chiropractic care here in Fort Waye. 

Finding Good Chiropractors in Indiana

We know that people can feel nervous about seeking chiropractic therapy. We’ve addressed some of the myths and fears that are often associated with chiropractors on our blog before. Because we know that it’s at the back of your mind, we understand the importance of finding safe, high-quality treatments. We strive to provide outstanding service from our team of trained, certified, and reputable staff.   

There are many chiropractors in Indiana, but not all provide what we feel is the necessary diversity of services. At Allen County Sports and Family Chiropractic, we focus on the entire body as a whole. We combine traditional chiropractic techniques, like adjustments, with training, nutrition, and even massage. Together, these four practices fully support your body exactly as you need it. 

We Provide a Variety of Chiropractic Care in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Our primary chiropractic physician, Dr. Michael Hartle, specializes in traditional and sports chiropractic medicine. He’s also a board-certified Clinical Nutritionist (DACBN), a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), an Active Release Technique (ART) provider, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). 

We value this variety of specialties because we understand the body’s connection between skeletal health, nutrition, muscle strength, and training. You can rest assured that Dr. Hartle has you covered! In addition to sports and nutrition specialties, we also offer therapeutic massage from our Massage Therapist, Joshua Poulin. Massage is a significant complement to our adjustments. Whether you’re old or young, an athlete or not, we can help you feel your best with regular chiropractic care in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Sports in Fort Wayne

The community of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is particularly active. We live in a beautiful place with rolling plains that allow for superb opportunities to bike, run, and walk. We’re also lucky to live at the confluence of three rivers, meaning we have many watersports to enjoy.

Being active is great for your health, but it also puts a strain on your muscles and joints that, over time, can cause misalignment issues. That’s why we rest after exercise. But sometimes your body needs a little help with chiropractic care. Slight manipulations of the joints will help your body relearn proper alignments and keep you more loose and flexible. As a result, you recover faster and feel better sooner. 

So when looking for chiropractors in Indiana, be sure to find one that provides full-body support. Your body works together to ensure you can continue to enjoy the outdoor activities in beautiful Fort Wayne, and throughout our entire great state. And if you’re ever in our neighborhood, pop in and say hi!

What Do Chiropractors Do?

The question may sound simple enough, but a lot of people misunderstand what chiropractors do. There are a lot of rumors and misconceptions that make people even fear going to the chiropractor. Because we provide family chiropractic care in Fort Wayne, Indiana, we want to address the common myths and assure our community that we’re here to help!

Chiropractors Address Pain

Patients often seek chiropractic care when dealing with one (or more) of these three main types of pain: acute pain that flares up from time to time, chronic pain that impairs their daily life, and pain associated with sports and exercise. Chiropractors address other issues, too, but let’s focus on pain management to start. 

Acute and Chronic Pain

Chiropractors help patients manage and heal the pain that impairs their bodies. Whether it’s acute or chronic, first, we determine its source and cause. We work with bones, muscles, and joints. These three work together to keep your body aligned, loose, and flexible. When any of these goals are missing, that’s when you feel pain. 

High-quality chiropractic care in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is easy to find with us! We always take a comprehensive look at the entire body, often starting with X-rays and an assessment. Once we find the source of the pain, we can make a treatment plan. 

Integrative Treatment Plans

Family chiropractors work with people of all ages, including children, so each treatment plan is unique to you, your body, and your pain. Some are quite simple, requiring a few adjustments over time, followed by a regular annual visit. Others require more adjustments or other components like physical training, diet, and massage. It all depends on the type of pain and its location in your body.

Sports chiropractors work similarly, but those treatment plans often focus on long-term care that helps enhance athletic performance. Perhaps we’ll work with athletes during an entire season or even throughout the year. Regular adjustments, stretching, massage, training, and a healthy diet can keep the body more flexible and less prone to injuries. 

What is an Adjustment?

We often hear questions about adjustments. They sound scary, we agree. But forget the images of muscle and bone manipulation or the fear that family chiropractors can hurt you! Our exceptional chiropractic care in Fort Wayne, Indiana, provides the most advanced methods. We use gentle movements and small tools that help stimulate joints back into an optimal position. Misaligned joints shift bones, tighten muscles, and put a strain on your body, causing pain. Adjustments move everything back into the place where it should be.

Family chiropractors recommend several adjustments at the beginning of your treatment because our muscle memory will slowly put them back into an uncomfortable position. Gradually, we help those joints, bones, and muscles remember the correct, pain-free placement, which is why you can phase out of chiropractic care. Still, annual visits can help maintain the pain for longer and even prevent it in the future.

Five Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a standard method of relaxation. When picturing massage, it’s easy to envision scenes of soothing music, aromatherapy candles, and the melting of your worries. Although this is undoubtedly true, there are many more benefits of massage that are less obvious but just as helpful. 

Massage Therapy for Everyone

Before we dive into these five advantages, it’s important to note that massage therapy is beneficial for everyone in many different ways. Regardless of age, physicality, job, gender identity, race, and more, massage is a great option that targets an array of issues. Some techniques are even specific to certain demographics, such as children, athletes, or those suffering physical injuries. 

Benefit One: Stress Reduction 

Let’s start with the prominent perk—stress reduction. It’s the reason why many people choose to begin massage therapy. Studies show that relaxation techniques in massage cause an observable reaction in the brain. These methods result in increased endorphins, as well as heightened levels of both serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals are all associated with the feeling of happiness and can help alleviate anxiety. Massage can also decrease cortisol, which is the hormone responsible for the stress we feel. 

Benefit Two: Injury Healing and Prevention

A lot of patients turn to the benefits of massage because of an injury. When damage occurs to your body, especially with muscle, joints, and ligaments, specialized massage therapy can help. Strategic pressure and movement can enhance the healing process for sustained injuries by releasing muscle tightness, reducing swelling, and decreasing scar tissue. This technique is a common practice in sports chiropractic care.  

Massage can also support the body in preventing future damage by increasing blood flow, lubrication, and stretching in muscles. Your body is “looser,” which enhances your range of motion. When this happens, injury is less likely to occur because your body can move better.  

Benefit Three: Reduce Acute and Chronic Pain 

The rhythmic motion along muscles works out what we call “knots,” which are tense muscle fibers. They can also contain a buildup of fascial tissue, which can cause something called a “trigger point.” At first, this muscle tightness can feel like small bits of pain, known as acute. But over time, that pain can become more frequent and even start to impact you chronically. By releasing these triggers, the accumulation of connective tissue dissipates, and your muscles are more loose and agile.

Benefit Four: Improved Circulation

As mentioned above, the rhythmic motion of massage increases blood flow in the body. When your blood is flowing more freely, that improves circulation. There are lots of benefits of massage therapy, but this one takes precedence. Poor circulation is responsible for various symptoms, including fatigue, digestive problems, cognitive decline, joint pain, swelling, numbness, and more. Addressing circulation issues can significantly improve your health.

Benefit Five: Enhance Immune System

Lastly, as massage improves circulation, that blood flow also enhances immune system function. Massage therapy can flush out toxins and increase the white blood cell activity in our bodies. Both of these results support immune functionality, but white blood cells are the ones that fight disease and can even lower cortisol.