Displaying items by tag: Massage Therapy
How You Can Improve Your Recovery From A Car Accident With Massage Therapy
We’ve all been there. You’re waiting for the light to change and get rear-ended. A hydroplaning car careens right into the side of your vehicle. Or you’re momentarily distracted and you slam on your brakes too late. Whichever way it happens, a car accident is never a good situation. After the collision, you’ve got to deal with the headaches of insurance claims and car repairs. But, you also need to treat your personal injuries, even if it was a minor accident. One of the best treatment methods for your injuries following a car accident is massage therapy. Let’s examine how it can contribute to and improve your recovery.
The Recovery Process: How We Recover From An Accident
In the US, roughly 3 million people are injured in car accidents each year. Depending on the severity of the accident, those people may have either a short road or a long road to recovery. What does that recovery process usually look like?
In most cases, you seek out the attention of a medical professional soon after the accident. They treat your injury and set your expectations for the remainder of your healing process. In more minor cases, you might brush off the incident and go about your work week as usual. Either way, we eventually recover from our injuries and feel 100% once more. But, that doesn’t last forever.
Sooner or later, you might notice some recurring pains in your neck, back, or other muscles. You might even experience flare-ups of prior injuries. For many, it’s not always clear why these pains are occurring now.
The answer is simple: Your body undergoes muscular trauma in a car accident. Your body gets jolted, your muscles tensed up, and you were injured. When you get into a vehicular accident, your body can experience some serious muscular problems. These could include:
Whiplash
Lumbar sprains or strains
Cervical sprains or strains
Lower back pains
And much more!
This muscular trauma only gets worse if it’s never properly treated. Regardless of how long it’s been since your car accident, massage therapy can help address that muscular trauma and improve your recovery.
Improving Your Recovery From A Car Accident With Massage Therapy
Let’s examine just a few of the ways that your road to recovery can be improved with massage therapy.
Alleviate Your Chronic Pain And Muscular Problems
Massage therapy offers a non-invasive therapeutic approach to treating chronic pain. To do this, your massage therapist may employ neuromuscular massage — an extremely focused treatment method that can be a bit painful. This intensive approach is necessary to work out the muscular knots and underlying tension that is causing you pain.
While the session may be a little painful, you’ll ultimately experience far less chronic pain afterwards. The powerful pain relief effects of massage therapy have been well documented for years. Numerous studies have also shown how massage therapy can improve accident-related injuries. So, whether you’ve got minor back cramps or recurring pains from your car accident, massage therapy can help.
Improved Sense of Wellbeing
Car accidents bring out the worst in us. We yell, curse, and place blame on each other and ourselves. The whole situation can bring you down, ruining your self-confidence and self-esteem. Fortunately, you can easily repair your sense of self-worth after your car accident with massage therapy.
Research studies have shown that massage can contribute to improving your sense of wellbeing. These impacts can occur even up to 6 months after the accident! But, it doesn’t stop there. Massage therapy has also been shown to improve your mood. So, you can pick yourself up out of the post-accident dumps with a session of massage therapy.
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Car accidents are stressful! The initial collision undoubtedly causes a spike in your cortisol levels. Don’t forget about the stress of dealing with the insurance claims process and finding the time to take your car into the auto-shop. It’s overwhelming, stressful, and messy. Fortunately, massage therapy can help with that too.
Did you know that 15-minutes of massage therapy can help reduce your stress levels? This is due to the fact that massage therapy helps lower your heart rate and blood pressure, relax your muscles, and increase the levels of endorphins in your brain. It should be clear by now that the perfect self-care remedy to follow-up your car accident is massage therapy.
Better Overall Health
We’ve covered some of the best ways that you can improve your recovery from a car accident with massage therapy. But, massage therapy can also benefit your overall health in many additional ways. Do you have mobility or flexibility issues? Do you want to improve the negative side effects of sitting all day? Or are you looking to improve your immune system and your bodily efficiencies? Massage therapy is the answer to all of these problems and more! And when you have better health, you recover from injuries faster.
Speed Up The Recovery From Your Car Accident With Massage Therapy
The car accident has already happened, there’s no use worrying over that now. Now, you need to focus on the present and on the state of your health. If you want to avoid future chronic pain or alleviate your current ones, then it’s time to integrate massage therapy into your recovery.
Schedule your first session with Wayfare Wellness today and start improving your recovery from your car accident with massage therapy!
5 Reasons To Try Massage Therapy In Denver
Many people seek out massage therapy in Denver to alleviate and treat their chronic pains. This is the main purpose of massage therapy, but it’s certainly not the only health benefit. Even if they don't experience any chronic pain, many people still take advantage of massage therapy to improve other aspects of their life. From personal wellness to bodily efficiencies, there are plenty of health benefits you might be missing out on.
Why You Need To Try Massage Therapy In Denver
There are hundreds of reasons to try massage therapy, but let’s just examine 5 of the most impactful health benefits.
1. Improve Your Sleep
There’s nothing quite like a good night’s sleep. The next morning you’re more alert, attentive, and productive at work. But, sleep doesn’t come easily for everyone. It’s estimated that roughly 50 to 70 million Americans are affected by sleep-related problems. Insufficient sleep can actually lead to some serious health problems, such as weight gain, cognitive issues, and more.
Fortunately, you can ease your slumber with some massage therapy in Denver. Numerous studies have confirmed that massage therapy can actually improve your sleep. Why does this happen? It’s mainly because massage therapy promotes relaxation. A more relaxed body has an easier time falling asleep. Massage also reduces muscle pains that may have interfered with or prevented sleep before. Regardless of the technique that’s used, it’s clear that massage therapy can positively impact your sleep patterns.
2. Get More Out Of Your Weekend
The end of summer is right around the corner! The fast approaching fall season means it’s time to get in those last minute camping trips and weekend hikes. If you’re biking through Morrison one day and summiting a 14er the next, it’s tough to give each activity your all. It’s even tougher to find the time to give your body a break to rest and recover. That’s where massage therapy in Denver comes in handy.
Regardless of your activity, sports massage therapy can actually improve your athletic performance. This massage technique focuses on relieving tension while also increasing range of motion and improving soft tissue function. It’s been shown to not only improve athleticism, but to also reduce the risk of injury. So, if you’re looking to summit quicker or bike faster, get an afternoon massage on Friday. By caring for your body before the strenuous physical activity, you’ll be able to lap your friends throughout the whole weekend.
3. Give Your Immune System A Boost
The end of summer means it’s time to go back to school. Any parent knows exactly what that means: a greater risk of getting sick. Schools are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria, which your kids will bring back home. With flu season on the horizon, it can only get worse. Massage therapy in Denver can prepare you for the impending germ epidemic.
Believe it or not, massage therapy has actually been shown to improve the immune system. Specifically, it can increase the number of white blood cells within your body. These cells are the first line of defense against diseases and infections that enter the body. So, if you’re want to avoid getting sick this fall, get some massage therapy in Denver.
4. Destress And Detoxify Your Body
It’s a stressful world out there. From the never-ending news cycle to the chaos of work, stress builds up in the body. As it builds, your stress can even manifest in muscular pains and knots throughout your body. Fortunately, the best antidote for stress is relaxation. There’s nothing quite as relaxing as a session of massage therapy in Denver. Massage has actually been proven to reduce the levels of stress and anxiety hormones.
We also encounter a great number of toxins everyday. Similar to stress, these toxins can build and build within the body. While massage therapy may not directly detoxify your body, it supports detoxification in a number of ways. It’s been proven that massage therapy improves your blood circulation and organ function. This only amplifies the detoxifying effects of your liver, thus contributing to a healthier toxin-free body.
5. Boost Your Mood
No one is in a good mood every single day. Some days are just better than others and, occasionally, we’ll all feel down in the dumps. You cannot ignore the importance of your emotional health and it can easily be improved with a little massage therapy in Denver.
This mood boost can be accomplished thanks to the resulting shift in hormones. Even just 15 minutes of massage therapy can dramatically increase the serotonin levels in our brain. When you also consider how massage reduces stress and relieves pain, it’s no wonder why massage therapy improves your mood!
Realize These Benefits With The Best Massage Therapy In Denver
Even if you don’t suffer from chronic pain, you still have a lot to gain from massage therapy. The practice offers tons of other health benefits that we didn’t even touch on here! Take advantage of massage therapy and start improving your health today.
Book your first appointment with Wayfare Wellness, a leading provider of massage therapy in Denver, today!
What’s A Swedish Massage? Is It Right For Me?
It’s always one of the first questions we get from new clients: “what’s a Swedish massage?” Many people come to massage therapy for pain relief, but aren’t certain which approach will work best for them. From deep tissue to neuromuscular, it can be tough for newcomers to understand the differences. Let’s clear the air and examine the ins-and-outs of Swedish massage and how it can benefit you.
So, What’s A Swedish Massage?
Swedish massage is a light pressure massage technique that alleviates superficial muscle tension and problem areas. This technique is rooted in physiological and anatomical science. Swedish massage is arguably the most well known and widely used massage therapy technique.
The common strokes of the technique involves the use of fingers, knuckles, and palms to create circular pressure. Swedish massage is often used to warm-up and prepare the body for more intense massage therapy, like deep tissue or sports massage.
What’s A Swedish Massage Feel Like?
Usually after we define what’s a Swedish massage, most patients want to learn more about this unique technique. Many describe it as a soothing and relaxing sensation. You may experience sensations of stretching, kneading, and/or tapping on your body. These feelings can be amplified by any essential oils that your massage therapist may use.
Afterwards, you’ll leave the session with reduced muscle pain, a clear mind, and a relaxed body. You’ll also have a very clear sense of what’s a swedish massage like. If you are new to massage therapy, you may experience some muscle soreness in the days following your massage.
How Can It Benefit Me?
It’s easy enough to define what’s a Swedish massage. But, most people are more interested in how it benefits them. Aside from the obvious benefit of relaxation, there are many other health benefits to Swedish massage therapy. Here are a few of the most common benefits that patients experience:
Reduced Pain - This flexible approach effectively alleviates and treats pain points throughout the body.
Lower Blood Pressure - Studies have shown that regular Swedish massage therapy can improve circulatory issues and reduce their severity.
Improve Immune System Function - Research has also shown that just one session can positively impact your hormone levels and your immune system.
Additional research is currently being conducted on the health benefits of Swedish massage. Which means we’ve only begun to uncover the hidden benefits of this form of massage. So, instead of asking “what’s a Swedish massage,” people should be asking, “what can’t a Swedish massage do for me?”
Is Swedish Massage Right For Me?
Swedish massage is the perfect introductory technique for anyone new to massage therapy. There’s a reason why it’s so widely practiced. It’s the most adaptable form of massage therapy out there. Depending on your needs, this technique can be easily integrated into any other form of massage therapy. So, even if you benefit the most from deep tissue massage therapy, you can still reap the benefits of Swedish massage.
If you suffer from recurring pain issues, Swedish massage could be the missing piece to your self-care strategy.
Where Can I Book My First Appointment?
Now that we’ve answered the frequently asked question, “what’s a Swedish massage,” the most common follow-up question is: “where do I sign up?” With our online booking system, you can find the best time slot in your day to meet with our experienced massage therapist. Book your first Swedish massage appointment with Wayfare Wellness today!
How To Resolve Chronic Pain With T-Bar Massage
While massage therapy can benefit people from all walks of life, those suffering from chronic pain usually require a more individualized and unique therapeutic approach. Sometimes your pain problems may be too chronic for swedish massage therapy or too centralized for deep tissue massage. If your pain is too severe for traditional forms of therapeutic massage, then you might benefit greatly from t-bar massage.
What is T-Bar Massage and How Can it Benefit Me?
It’s estimated that nearly 20 million Americans suffer from high-impact chronic pain issues on a daily basis. This can greatly limit your daily activities and operations. Highly targeted neuromuscular massage therapy (NMT) can effectively treat those chronic pain issues. Since neuromuscular therapy is so extremely focused, massage therapists will often call upon an NMT tool called a “t-bar.”
The t-bar is used to isolate trigger points and effectively treat those painful areas. Your massage therapist leverages the t-bar to hone in on your pain points and apply greater pressure to specific areas for greater pain relief. To put it more frankly: a t-bar massage allows your massage therapist to reach the root of your pain and treat it right at the source.
How Does T-Bar Massage Work?
The very simple t-bar tool has three central pieces: the handle, the shank, and the tip. This straightforward design helps the massage therapist easily apply concentrated pressure to trigger points. Trigger points are hypersensitive pea-sized knots that usually develop in injured muscles.
Once the trigger point is found, the massage therapist will apply alternating levels of concentrated pressure directly on the trigger point for anywhere between 10-30 seconds. Some patients may experience some discomfort when a massage therapist is using t-bar massage to release tension in the fascia. This is necessary to properly alleviate your points of chronic pain. We recommend working with a licensed NMT therapist that you can openly communicate with to reap the most benefit from t-bar massage.
Those who struggle with chronic pain know that it is a highly personal experience. That’s why t-bar massage is never “one-size-fits-all.” Instead, we utilize a wide variety of t-bars in our neuromuscular massage therapy techniques to give every individual client the maximum benefit possible.
Who Should Try T-Bar Massage?
It should be noted that only certified Neuromuscular Massage Therapists are licensed to practice NMT and use t-bars during massage. You should never receive NMT from a massage therapist who lacks the certification. Our licensed massage therapist, Sarah Monreal, is a dedicated and certified practitioner of NMT, so she understands the minute details of neuromuscular and t-bar massage.
T-bar massage is not for everyone, the same way that neuromuscular massage is not for everyone. Those that have chronic/recurring pain problems can benefit the most from t-bar massage. Additionally, NMT can be incredibly beneficial to those recovering from injuries, accidents, or surgeries. T-bar massage can also help address:
Arthritis
Circulatory problems
Myofascial trigger points
Neural entrapment
Nerve compression
Sciatica
And much more!
If you don’t suffer from any of these conditions, but still have recurring pain problems, you may benefit from our other approaches to massage therapy. Regardless of your therapeutic approach, Wayfare Wellness will develop a personalized treatment plan to address your pain.
Book Your First T-Bar Massage Therapy Session
T-bar massage is the ideal massage therapy solution for anyone who suffers from chronic pain issues. If you find yourself impeded by recurring pain and need relief, then book your first t-bar massage with Wayfare Wellness today!
How Pregnancy Massage In Denver Can Benefit You
The journey of pregnancy can often be an arduous one. Everything you do is impacted by your baby for 9 months, including how you do your work, what you eat, and how your take care of yourself. You’re doing all that you can to ensure the health of your future child, but you’re most likely missing out on the huge health benefits of prenatal massage. Pregnancy massage in Denver can improve the well-being of your fetus and, within a few sessions, you can experience great impacts on your health as well.
If you experience discomfort, recurring pains, excessive anxiety, or have an over-active baby throughout your pregnancy, prenatal massage may be exactly what you need to improve the overall experience of being pregnant.
Improving Your Life with Pregnancy Massage In Denver
Benefits of Prenatal Massage
Therapeutic massage techniques have been shown, time and time again, to improve health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Pregnancy massage is no exception. The benefits of prenatal massage have been well documented for many years, thanks to thorough research studies. And these benefits are not just limited to the mother or the baby; pregnancy massage in Denver can benefit the health of both parties.
Here are just a few benefits of prenatal massage:
Decreased anxiety - Studies have shown massage therapy lowers cortisol levels in mothers, which, in turn, decreases excessive fetal activity and lowers the rate of premature births.
Improved mood and reduced depression - A research study of 84 depressed women in their second trimester reported that the women experienced higher levels of dopamine and serotonin from a few 20-minute massage therapy sessions per week, along with better neonatal outcomes (i.e., premature births, low birth-weights, etc.).
Reduced pain - Aside from those studies already mentioned above, others have documented how pregnant women have experienced less back pains and leg pains from prenatal massage therapy sessions.
To put it more clearly: prenatal massage improves your physical and psychological well-being, and reduces birthing complications, which makes for an easier pregnancy. And who doesn’t want an easier pregnancy?
Learn more about the benefits of prenatal massage from our previous blog post.
What Would A Pregnancy Massage in Denver Look Like?
First and foremost, your health is the priority. Before booking a prenatal massage session, you should speak to both your doctor and your massage therapist to fully understand the precautions you may need to take. As we’ve covered, the benefits of prenatal massage are many and growing, but the safety/health of you and your baby come first.
While each individual is different and each pregnancy is unique, a typical prenatal massage session could last between 30-60 minutes. For the majority of the session, you will lay on your side (alternating sides halfway through) while resting your body on a pillow, adjusted to your body type and point in the pregnancy. We can adjust your body position throughout the session, to semi-reclined supported positions or other prone positions, if needed.
Massage therapists can use a variety of techniques to address your pain areas. So, if you suffer from neck pains and migraines while pregnant, massage therapists could take a cranial-sacral approach. Or if you have consistently swollen and sensitive feet, perhaps a swedish massage technique would work best. It all depends on your pain points and your comfort level.
Of course, the pacing of the massage, the body positions, and massage pressure will vary from person to person. Comfort is of paramount importance for pregnancy massages in Denver and your massage therapist should be putting your comfort first throughout your massage.
The Best Pregnancy Massage in Denver
At Wayfare Wellness, our certified massage therapist, Sarah, has been thoroughly trained in a wide variety of massage therapy approaches and has practiced them with many clients. One of our specialties is prenatal massage, so Sarah knows the ins-and-outs of prenatal massage and understands exactly how to provide the best pain relief for you.
Whether you’ve just found out you are pregnant or you’re counting down the days in the third trimester, we can develop a personalized massage therapy plan to give you the best results. Wayfare Wellness is a leader in pregnancy massage in Denver, so let us show you how we can benefit you.
Experience the benefits of prenatal massage first hand and book your first massage therapy session with Wayfare Wellness today. Or contact us to learn more about what we can offer.
The Benefits of Getting A Sports Massage in Denver
Are you an avid athlete constantly challenging yourself physically? Do you enjoy exercising regularly, but find yourself experiencing recurring injuries? Or are you preparing for a major test of your physical abilities and need some support? A sports massage in Denver could greatly benefit your athleticism, improve your abilities for your competition, and reduce your risk of injury.
Sports massage — one of the specialty massage therapies that we offer in our downtown Denver office — is an effective therapeutic tool for athletes that suffer from sports-related injuries or are interested in improving their athletic performance, recovery speed, and maintaining their peak performance. Whether you’re a relentless runner, a spry swimmer, or a courageous climber, athletes can discover outstanding health benefits from sports massage in Denver.
Here are just a few reasons why a sports massage with Wayfare Wellness may be perfect for you.
Benefits of Sports Massage in Denver
Evidence-based research has proven repeatedly that sports massage can have numerous health benefits for athletes, and non-athletes when needed. These could be psychological or physiological benefits. Through research, observation, and client testimonials, we have found that sports massage can result in:
Improved range of motion in joints and muscles
Increased flexibility and soft tissue function
Improved sleep and sense of well-being
Reduced tension in muscles and joints
Reduced swelling and onset muscle soreness
Prevention of further injuries
If you feel any of these benefits are what you need to improve your athleticism, a sports massage in Denver may be exactly what you need.
Denver Sports Massage Meets Your Athletic Needs
No athlete will be the same as the next. Each one will be working towards different goals in different sports and, of course, will have different injuries.
Wayfare Wellness looks at your sports massage therapy through one of four different lenses:
Pre-Event - Aimed at improving your muscle function and range 7-2 days before your athletic event.
Post-Event - Reduce your recovery time after a large athletic event.
Restorative - For those who train on a daily basis to support the process of building regular muscle.
Rehabilitative - Specifically for those who have suffered injuries and are seeking pain alleviation.
Our massage therapist, Sarah Monreal, will build a specific sports massage plan, based on your therapy goals and specific sport regimen, relying on one, or a combination, of these methods. We dive more into these different sports massage approaches in another blog post.
Sports Massage in Denver Downtown
Denver is one of the most exciting and captivating cities to experience right now in the United States. This wonderful city may be expansive, but the Wayfare Wellness office is located right in the heart of downtown Denver. After we alleviate your pain in your sports massage appointment, you’ll exit our building and find yourself right at the center of all the commotion of Denver.
Centrally located, there’s nothing quite like downtown Denver. You’re just minutes away from the Colorado convention center, the shining state capital, Coors field, the Pepsi Center, the RiNo art district, the historic 16th street mall, and the RTD light rail which is ready to take you almost anywhere in the city. After your sports massage, you’ll be more than ready to take on the entirety of Denver.
Book Your First Sports Massage in Denver
At Wayfare Wellness, our massage therapist has been perfecting her massage techniques for years through diverse experiences; there isn’t a sports-related injury that she hasn’t seen. Sarah is thoroughly prepared to meet your massage needs.
Our sports massage therapy will help prevent injuries, improve your recovery time, enhance your flexibility, and increase your athletic training. Find the best appointment slot for you through our convenient online booking system or call Wayfare Wellness today!
Craniosacral Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy, or CST, is an alternative form of massage which utilizes a gentle hands-on, non-invasive approach in order to manipulate and release tension in the bones of the head, spinal column, and sacrum. Craniosacral Therapy primarily addresses asymmetry in the fluid and membranes that protect the spinal cord and brain, while simultaneously relieving pain and dysfunction to improve whole-body health and performance.
Originally pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger while at Michigan State University, CST regulates and manipulates the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which protects the brain and spinal cord from trauma.
How Does Craniosacral Therapy Work?
Our bodies endure stresses and strains on a daily basis, which take a heavy toll on our bodies. These stressors can cause body tissues to tighten and distort the craniosacral system, which means our central nervous system can't operate as well.
To alleviate these stress points, our practitioner at Wayfare Wellness, Sarah, uses non-invasive soft touch massage techniques around the craniosacral system. By using these light-touch techniques, our practitioner can identify the rhythm of your craniosacral system, along with any tense areas, and help align the flow of CSF. These gentle methods help our massage therapist find your specifically blocked areas of stress or obstruction in CSF flow.
What Conditions Can Craniosacral Therapy Treat?
Since the conception of craniosacral therapy and massage in the 1970's, CST has been found to be effective in addressing numerous physiological issues, primarily associated with blockages in the craniosacral system. These conditions include:
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuires
Migraines and Headaches
Chronic Neck and Back Pain
Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Autism
Stress and Tension-Related Disorders
With research continuing to back up this innovative massage therapy, we're only beginning to scratch the surface of what conditions CST can treat.
How Many Craniosacral Therapy Sessions Will I Need?
Craniosacral therapy sessions are done while you are fully clothed and the sessions range from 45 minutes to more than an hour. Each individual will respond differently to CST and some conditions may require more CST than others. The number of sessions needed varies widely and depend greatly upon your own conditions, stressors, and comfort level.
What Will I Experience After A Session?
Just as each individual will respond differently to the therapeutic experience, the results can vary widely as well. You could leave the session in a sleepy relaxed state or you may leave with limitless energy. Past participants have stated that they felt a decrease in pain and tension, while others have felt increased functionality or focus immediately after the session. Sometimes these effects will develop gradually over the next few days rather than directly following the session.
Regardless of what you experience, CST helps the body resume its natural healing processes and these improvements can continue for weeks following the session.
How Can I Book My First CST Session?
You can schedule an appointment at our downtown Denver office today and learn how craniosacral therapy can help you!
If you have any other questions that weren't answered here, please reach out and we'll answer them as quickly as possible.
Why You Should Schedule Your Chiropractic Appointment BEFORE Your Massage
Chiropractic doctors and massage therapists often work hand in hand to help patients find relief from pain and injury. Many professionals recommend that you even see your chiropractor and your massage therapist on the same day, back-to-back, even, if you can manage it. While scheduling your chiropractic appointments and massages regularly and at the same time can have many visits, the order in which you see these two specialists does make a difference in your treatment.
Your Chiropractic Appointment Comes First
A chiropractic adjustment will make modifications to the alignment of your joints. Typically, these adjustments involve strategic, rapid movements by your doctor in order to release any air or gas that has built up between joints and return your spinal column back to proper alignment. If you have never had a chiropractic adjustment, do not be alarmed by this description of spinal manipulation. It is much more effective for your chiropractor to make small, quick adjustments to guide your body into proper alignment than to attempt to slowly move your vertebrae. A chiropractic adjustment is a painless and harmless way to find pain relief.
Because of the nature of chiropractic adjustments, you can imagine that it comes as a slight shock to your soft tissue. Especially if your body is severely misaligned, a chiropractic adjustment can cause your muscles to tense up as a natural reaction to the change. The stimulus is the exact opposite of the slower, deeper manipulations of soft tissue that you experience during a massage. It is for this reason that you should see your chiropractor before you have a massage.
How Does Massage Support Chiropractic?
After you have had a chiropractic adjustment, your soft tissues are highly stimulated, reacting to the dramatic changes to the alignment of your spinal column. By following your chiropractic appointment with a massage, your therapist can help ease your muscles back into a relaxed state where they can adapt to the new normal that is alignment. Soft tissue work, following a spinal adjustment, helps to ensure the work your chiropractor has done can stand up to your everyday life and the adverse effects things like sitting at a desk all day have on our bodies.
What If Your Muscles Feel Really Tight?
This is a common question both massage therapists and chiropractors hear.
“My muscles are so tight, I can’t get an adjustment.”
When your spinal column is misaligned, the muscles around it will constrict to keep it protected. The longer your body is misaligned, the more your muscles will adapt to your spinal column, even in an inproper state. Overtime, this can make adjustments difficult, however, it does not necessarily warrant a massage before your chiropractic appointment. Chiropractors are well-versed in methods of physical relaxation that encourage the muscles to allow for physical manipulation. This might include massage efforts, electronic stimulation, acupuncture or acupressure, or some combination of the above. Let your downtown Denver chiropractor do the initial relaxation and utilize massage therapy to help your body recover from the adjustment.
Long-Term Relief And Recovery
A singular chiropractic appointment and massage is likely to offer initial relief. However, just as a single workout does not grow muscles and a single class does not teach you the entire course, a single appointment will not offer long-term relief from chronic pain or injury. Utilizing chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy at regular intervals over time can help your find long-term relief and/or recover from injury.
If you’re looking for a massage therapist who works well with chiropractors to help patients find pain relief, look no further than Wayfare Wellness. Contact us today to schedule an appointment - just make sure to see your chiropractor first!
Four Reasons To Get Massage Therapy This Summer
Summer means longer days and higher temperatures. It's also time for fun in the sun with tons of relaxation – right? Wrong! While you're soaking up the sun, your body is often the most active it has been all year long. While your mind might be at ease, your body certainly is not. Let's talk about how a regular massage can help you enjoy your summer.
Massage Therapy: 4 Reasons to Get a Summer Massage
Summer Means More Activity
Between days at the pool, trips to the park, exploring during vacation, and getting all that yard work done, you are constantly in motion when the weather allows. You may even be adding to that by picking up that long abandoned tennis racket or lacing up those running shoes to take advantage of the sunny skies. All of this is great for the mind, body, and soul, it can also put a beating on your body. That's where massage therapy comes in.
Massage Can Increase Your Mobility
In order to enjoy all of those fun, summertime activities, your body has to be taken care of. Regular massage therapy throughout the summer can help increase the mobility of your joints, as well as help your body recover from pain or soreness faster. When you don't have to worry about aches and pains, you can enjoy your summer.
Heat And Humidity Mean Swelling
The increased heat and humidity of summertime often lead to swelling and discomfort because your body is holding on to the fluids you accumulate. It's hard to enjoy that bikini and poolside glow when your joints feel puffy and swollen. Getting regular massages helps you combat the heat and humidity by increasing blood flow to reduce swelling and make all that movement you're doing much more comfortable.
Massage Therapy Can Boost Your Immune System
Massage therapy increases the activity of your body's white blood cells, which are what help you fight infection. Many studies have been conducted to understand the role massage therapy plays in fight illness, infection, and disease, showing significant benefits in all cases. Nothing puts a damper on your summertime fun like a bug that gets you feeling down. Why not pamper yourself AND boost your immune system?
The Benefits Of Massage Therapy
Summertime brings with it not only a lot of fun but also some additional stress that can tax your mind and body. With the kids home from school, you're constantly on the go. With the weather heating up, you're taking advantage of the sunshine. With humidity on the rise, your joints are taking a beating. There are a number of factors that can put a damper on your summer, all of which massage therapy can help you combat.
Whether you need some R & R after a crazy week at home with the kids or your body is aching after a day spent doing yard work and gardening, booking an appointment with your local massage therapist can help get you back to feeling your best in no time.
Schedule your appointment today with downtown Denver's leading massage therapist at Wayfare Wellness.
Downtown Denver Massage for the Over-Scheduled, Over Stressed Denver Professional
5 Reasons to Get a Downtown Denver Massage
You’re a busy professional. A full-time-and-then-some employee. Maybe you’re just an on-the-go Denverite. Whatever the case, a busy lifestyle is demanding on your mind and body. You probably don’t realize the toll it takes on you because, well, you’re too busy. Here are five reasons to slow down long enough to enjoy a downtown Denver massage.
1. You’re Sitting All Day at the Office
Have you heard that sitting is the new smoking? If you’re sitting all day, your cardiovascular health is at risk. Sedentary people have higher rates of type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cancer-related deaths. Yuck. (If you sit all day but you’re an athlete this doesn’t apply, but you should read our (sports massage secrets to better athletic performance.)
Massage therapy can improve cardiovascular health and reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes. That beats walking up steps for heart health.
2. Stress Might Be Killing You
According to the American Psychological Association, 75 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. The American Institute of Stress calls it America’s #1 health problem.
Massage therapy has been proven to reduce stress, and bonus, a massage is much less expensive than a heart attack.
3. Massage Therapy Relieves Low Back Pain
One-third of work-related disability claims are attributed to low back pain. Further, low back pain causes more disability than 300 other conditions around the world. With that much back pain going around, it’s a wonder there isn’t a line around the block for our downtown Denver massage therapy office. Massage therapy is one of the best treatments for low back pain. And if a spinal adjustment is what you need, there is a chiropractic office next door.
4. Massage Relieves Tension Headaches
If you are one of the go-go-getters of Denver, you may be noticing an increased frequency of headaches. Staring at screens for hours, bad posture, muscle tension and work stress can all contribute to the presentation of tension headaches. Lucky for you, massage is one of the best therapies for tension headaches.
5. A Downtown Denver Massage Therapist is Nearby
Probably the best reason to visit a downtown Denver massage therapist is Wayfare Wellness is located on California Street between 16th and 17th streets in downtown Denver. It’s quick and convenient to get to our office from almost anywhere downtown. Book an appointment today.