Benefits of Massage Therapy

Written By Tracy & Keim Chiropractic LLC on May 10, 2024

You’ve probably experienced massage in one form or another, whether it’s a back rub from your
partner or rubbing your own neck to get rid of a kink. Massage is a general term for pressing,
kneading, or manipulating your skin and soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It
may be very gentle and light or use deep pressure, depending on what feels good and what
your body needs.

What is Massage Therapy?

While any kind of massage can feel great and be beneficial to your mind and body, massage
therapy goes beyond the pampering you might find in a spa, where the goal is simply to help
you relax. Therapeutic massage certainly can produce a feeling of relaxation (and usually does!)
but it also goes deeper to provide targeted therapeutic benefits that are both physical and
psychological.

Massage therapy is practiced by licensed therapists and is often included in integrative
medicine, which uses a more holistic approach than conventional medicine, combining the best
that both traditional Western and holistic models have to offer. The benefits of massage therapy
are easily felt and often produce fast relief, which is perhaps why massage is an increasingly
popular option for treating a wide range of medical conditions.

When Should Massage Therapy Be Used?

Massage therapy is a safe treatment for a wide variety of conditions. Even people who enjoy
great physical health can enjoy the benefits of massage in forms such as reduced stress and
better sleep. However, there are also some specific medical conditions that massage therapy
has proven especially suited to help with. These include:

Headaches
Neck pain
Back pain
Whiplash
Soft tissue strains and injuries
Sport injuries
Digestive disorders
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
Fibromyalgia
Nerve pain
Insomnia
Anxiety
Depression

Massage therapy has also proved beneficial in postoperative care and in treating scar tissue. If
you’re not sure whether therapeutic massage should be added as part of your treatment plan,
feel free to ask your doctor! Massage is something that can often be incorporated into your care
plan or simply pursued on your own if you feel you could benefit from it.

What Are the Benefits of Massage Therapy?

There are a host of benefits that come from taking care of yourself with a good massage. If you
have a particular condition that you’re hoping massage therapy will help with, be sure to talk to
your massage therapist so they can target those areas of the body that will produce the best
results for your situation.

That said, here are some of the most common benefits experienced with this safe, non-invasive,
and feel-good treatment.

Physical Benefits of Massage Therapy

Improved circulation
Better quality of sleep
Decreased muscle stiffness
Decreased joint inflammation
Less pain and soreness
Improved flexibility
Strengthened immune response
Quicker recovery between workouts

Mental Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

Lower stress levels
Improved relaxation
Improved mood
Decreased anxiety
More energy
Greater feeling of wellness

What to Expect During Your Massage Therapy Session

We want your therapeutic massage session to feel as comfortable as possible. Your licensed
massage therapist (LMT) will ask you to point out any specific areas of discomfort so they can
provide focused treatment.

Normally you will begin your session lying facedown on the massage table and then transition to
your back, but if lying on your stomach is not accessible, your therapist will adjust your position
so that you can lie on your side or sit up while work is done on your back. Our massage tables
can be adjusted so that you and your therapist can find a position that is comfortable and
effective.

During your massage, it’s important to pay attention to how the treatment feels on your body.
Most massage therapy feels relaxing and enjoyable, but it can sometimes be briefly
uncomfortable if your therapist is working on a knot or other sensitive spot in the muscle.
However, massage should never be painful. If the pressure feels too intense, ask your therapist
to use a lighter touch.

What to Expect After Your Massage

Most people feel relaxed and maybe even a little sleepy after experiencing therapeutic
massage. Everyone’s body is different though, and sometimes when your therapist has been
doing deeper work, you might feel a little sore. This is completely normal. Essentially, your
massage therapist has been working your muscles, so it can feel almost like you’ve completed a
workout.

Is Therapeutic Massage Right for You?

We can help you determine whether massage therapy might be a good choice for you, based
on your health history and current health goals. Depending on your needs, massage therapy
can be used alone or in tandem with other treatment options. If you’re not sure whether

therapeutic massage is right for you, contact our office at 541-689-0935 to request an
appointment. One of our practitioners will be happy to discuss your needs and help you decide
on the best treatment plan. Meet our licensed massage therapists here!

One of the best things about Tracy and Keim is that we offer a wide variety of individualized
services to meet your health needs in the best way possible. If you are living with pain, you don’t
have to decide on your own whether massage therapy, chiropractic, or even laser therapy is the
best way to find relief. We can help you make an educated decision and provide everything you
need right here in our Eugene, Oregon office.

Our doctors and therapists are focused on improving your quality of life and making sure you
leave our clinic feeling better than when you walked in. There are many roads down the path to
wellness. Let us find the one that is best for you at Tracy and Keim Chiropractic. We look
forward to serving you and helping you to live pain-free!

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Posted In: Pain Management Stress Relief General Health Back Pain