Massage Therapy in Memphis at Midtown Chiropractic

Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissue with the intent to relax muscles, decrease pain, and increase flexibility and range of motion. Manual bodywork presses, rubs, and stretches soft tissue. As a result, an increase of blood and oxygen is delivered to the massaged areas. With better circulation and oxygen, soft tissue heals more quickly and easily and joints become more flexible. It also helps to boost the body's immune system as the lymph system is stimulated during a massage.

In a chiropractic setting, the relaxation and increased range on motion as related to the spine, promotes longer lasting adjustments. Many insurance plans cover the cost of therapeutic massage in conjunction with chiropractic care.

Experts estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent of disease is stress-related. Massage is there to combat that frightening statistic by helping us remember what it means to relax. Besides increasing relaxation and decreasing anxiety, massage

* improves recovery from injury,
* help you to sleep better and
* reduces fatigue
* Alleviate low-back pain and
* Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity
hospital stays.
* Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
* Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
* Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
* Reduce post-surgery adhesions and swelling.
* Reduce spasms and cramping.
* Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
* Relieve migraine pain.

Structural Integration Massage Therapy From Midtown Chiropractic

Ten or even five years ago, mention of the words “Rolfing®” or “structural integration” likely elicited quite a few blank stares. And most people outside the holistic health industry probably never considered that their everyday aches and pains could be associated with connective tissue. But today, like many other holistic therapies, structural integration is a growing field. As more and more people are realizing that they don’t have to live with bodily discomforts, poor posture and the stress that these conditions create, they are actively seeking new solutions.

Massage and Pregnancy - Prenatal Massage At Midtown Chiropractic

Therapeutic massage has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Modern research is proving that prenatal massage therapy can be a very instrumental ingredient in women’s prenatal care.

Popular Massage Therapy Modalities

A few popular examples of massage therapy are as follows:

In Swedish massage, the therapist uses long strokes, kneading, and friction on the muscles and moves the joints to aid flexibility.

A therapist giving a deep tissue massage uses patterns of strokes and deep finger pressure on parts of the body where muscles are tight or knotted, focusing on layers of muscle deep under the skin.

In trigger point massage (also called pressure point massage), the therapist uses a variety of strokes but applies deeper, more focused pressure on myofascial trigger points--"knots" that can form in the muscles, are painful when pressed, and cause symptoms elsewhere in the body as well.

Craniosacral Therapy - A gentle method of manipulating the body's craniosacral system (consisting of thin membranes and cerebrospinal fluid which surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord) in an attempt to improve the function of the central nervous system, dissipate the negative effects of stress and enhance health and resistance to disease.

Reiki - A therapy based on universal life energy that serves to align chakras and bring healing energy to organs and glands. Reiki utilizes visualization as practitioner acts as a channel for the life energy.

Rolfing® - Used to reorder the major body segments, this technique utilizes physical manipulation and movement awareness to bring the body into vertical alignment. Treatments are offered in a 10-session series.

Shiatsu - A deep, finger-pressure technique using the traditional acupuncture points of Asian healing. Works to unblock energy flows and restore balance to meridians and organs. Shiatsu is performed on a mat on the floor. Stretching and range of motion techniques are integrated throughout the session.