With an established patient base it makes sense for DCs to pair CAM services such as chiropractic and massage
A DC with a robust patient base can add further to their income by offering massage therapy services, and odds are good that their chiropractic patients will also recommend those services to friends and family. Patients who initially come in to see the massage therapist will also be more likely to then use and recommend DC services to take advantage of chiropractic and massage offered jointly.
Chiropractic and massage together
Doctors of chiropractic are seeing more patients who are actively seeking out other alternative health care treatments. Such patients are also more likely to have conducted their initial research before coming to see a DC, so they may have a variety of questions. With this established patient base already, it makes good sense for DCs to add CAM services, such as massage, to their existing practice.
“I personally really enjoy the combination of sports chiropractic and massage therapy when working with athletes,” says Michael Braccio, DC, DACRB.
It can also be a learning opportunity for chiropractors and staff.
“For a chiropractor, being in an environment with a massage therapist who has expertise in soft-tissue work — it’s just a different world and not the same at all as what a chiropractor has traditionally learned and practiced,” said Michele Renee, director of integrated care at Northwestern Health Sciences University’s massage program. “And the opposite is true as well. A massage therapist can learn and do a lot working alongside a chiropractor.”
Dry hydromassage and roller tables
The trend of dry hydrotherapy tables appearing in many gyms and spas is also an opportunity for added benefit to chiropractic patients. High-pressure jets of warm water work to relax the muscles, decrease pain, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation. The main difference with dry hydrotherapy, as the name implies, is that there is a barrier between the jets of water and the patient.
If you are trying to decide between a roller table and a dry hydrotherapy table, consider how you want your practice to appeal to patients with the benefits of chiropractic and massage. While it is true that a roller table may help make a practice more efficient in terms of moving patients through, having one may not necessarily make a practice stand out in the city or region.
To view the latest in massage products and options for doctors of chiropractic go to www.chiroeco.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CHEC_10_2020_FULL-2.pdf.
