May 27, 2012 — Chiropractor Dr. Mitch Stanlick of Stanlick Chiropractic in Murfreesboro, Tenn., says that massage therapy has been a successful technique in treating back pain for many of his patients. According to Stanlick, several new studies show how massage not only relieves stress and musculoskeletal tensions, but also accelerates healing and decreases inflammation in injured tissues.
Stanlick says that massage can also enhance the effectiveness of chiropractic spinal adjustment and frequently uses these techniques together for patients needing pain management for back and neck pain, headaches, sciatica and sports injuries. He says the type of massage used depends on the patient’s condition.
Stanlick is sharing information demonstrating how massage therapy works to alleviate stress and pain. “Massage has been used to reduce stress and treat illness, but until recently, the mechanisms behind why massage is effective for pain management haven’t been well understood.
And even if the only thing massage did was reduce stress, it would still be amazing, especially when you look at the research on how stress exacerbates everything from heart disease and obesity to diabetes and depression. It’s been reported that 75 percent to 90 percent of all visits to the doctor are from stress-induced complaints. We’ve known for centuries that massage works — now we’re starting finding out the reasons why.”
Stanlick points to recent studies showing how massage affects the body at the cellular level. In one study, athletes had one leg massaged after a hard training session, while the other leg was left alone.
During this study, massage was shown to reduce the cellular inflammatory response within overworked muscles so that the massaged leg recovered faster than the other leg. Massage also rushes fresh, oxygenated circulation to an injured area and contributes to natural pain management by inducing the body to release endorphins. Other studies show that it stimulates immune function and can also help underweight babies gain more weight.
Stanlick says that many of his back pain patients have benefited from massage in conjunction with chiropractic spinal adjustments. He explains that since massage relieves musculoskeletal tensions and increases flexibility, it helps make the adjustments more effective and accelerates recovery time. He also says that the type of massage offered to each patient depends on their condition.
He is trained to offer deep tissue, trigger point, sports and Swedish massage. He often recommends deep tissue and trigger point massage to work on deeper injuries, while a Swedish massage often helps people with chronic pain and stress issues.
According to Stanlick, he recommends massage for the vast majority of his patients. “The health benefits of massage are significant and lasting. For people who want natural pain relief and stress reduction, this is a technique that can help them feel deeply better from head to toe.”
Source: Stanlick Chiropractic, stanlickchiropractic.com
