The healing power of massage therapy is so apparent that almost every culture throughout history has used massage to relieve pain. Brian Murphy, DC, MS, and the chiropractic specialists at Stamford Spine in Stamford, Connecticut, use massage therapy techniques combined with chiropractic care and therapeutic exercise to improve your overall health and wellness. To find out if massage therapy can help you with your pain, call the practice or schedule an appointment online today.

book online

What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is part of integrative medicine and involves a trained, certified massage therapist manipulating your muscles, tendons, connective tissue, ligaments, and skin with varying degrees of pressure.

Combining massage therapy with other medical treatments is an effective way to manage a health condition, relieve pain, or improve overall health and wellness.

Stamford Spine has a licensed massage therapist on staff to complement the noninvasive, integrative services offered through chiropractic care and therapeutic exercise. You can schedule an appointment for massage therapy by calling the practice or booking online.

What are the benefits of massage therapy?

Professional massages offer many benefits, including:

  • Stress reduction
  • Pain relief
  • Reduce nerve compression
  • Increased relaxation
  • Muscle tension reduction
  • Improve immune system functioning
  • Reduce insomnia

Massage therapy doesn’t cure disease, but it can help you cope with chronic pain or stress from various health conditions, like cancer, fibromyalgia, heart disease, or stomach issues.

How does massage therapy relieve pain?

Therapeutic massage relieves pain by relaxing muscles, joints, and tendons. Swedish massage is the most common type of massage therapy used for pain relief.

Massage therapy also reduces stress and anxiety, two symptoms commonly experienced by individuals with chronic pain. Massage stimulates competing nerve fibers and prevents pain messages from traveling from the body to the brain.

Massage also increases blood flow to stiff, sore joints and muscles. The extra circulation helps warm the body and contributes to pain relief.

Can I get massage therapy?

While massage is not harmful, there are situations where massage therapy is not a recommended treatment option.

You should avoid getting a massage if you have skin inflammation, as massage may further irritate the skin. In addition, if you have an area of infection, massaging the skin and muscles can cause the infection to spread.

People with infectious diseases, heart problems, certain skin conditions, or phlebitis should not get massage therapy. The experienced, licensed massage therapist at Stamford Spine discusses your medical history with you to determine if you are a candidate for massage therapy.

To experience the benefits of massage, call Stamford Spine or schedule an appointment online today.