This article is written by Dr. Brent Wells, DC
Thai Massage is a dynamic type of massage that resembles “passive yoga.” A patient in a Thai Massage session is taken by a therapist through a set of motions in a sort of gentle dance. In this massage, typical movements include “stretching, rocking, pressing, massaging and holding.”
Thai Massage is a great companion for chiropractic treatment. Generally speaking, Thai Massage can be used to boost and hold chiropractic adjustments.
Today we’ll go over five key benefits of Thai Massage for chiropractic. They have a positive impact which can improve your spinal health and overall wellness.
Thai Massage BEFORE your chiropractic session
Thai Massage can be used before a chiropractic session to help maximize the adjustment.
There are several reasons why this can benefit your body and enhance the treatment you receive:
1. Muscles are loosened for maximum adjustment
First, Thai Massage before your chiropractic session can relax your muscles and soft tissues. That’s because Thai Massage works to improve flexibility through “poses in motion.”
These movements require your muscles to passively go through motions which warm up your muscles and boost your range of motion. For chiropractic patients with extremely tight muscles, fascia or soft tissues, this kind of pre-treatment can be beneficial.
2. More relaxed for adjustment
Thai Massage can also make a patient more relaxed before an adjustment. This kind of relaxation – both physical and mental – can be useful to get the patient feeling ready for the needed adjustment.
The less tense and stiff a patient is, the more his/her muscles will stay supple for treatment. By getting Thai Massage beforehand, the patient will feel more comfortable and mentally prepared.
3. Prolong the effect of adjustment and pain relief
Thai Massage done before your chiropractic session can also maximize its effects. Massage techniques, both Thai and otherwise, done prior to chiropractic have been shown to prolong the effects of the adjustment.
This means that Thai Massage can actually boost chiropractic care, making the adjustment last longer and hold in the body better. In addition, it can also help reduce pain even more, keeping your body in rest for longer.
Thai Massage DURING your chiropractic session
4. Prepare the body for an adjustment
In order to successfully make an adjustment, the patient’s body must be flexible, relaxed and positioned in the right alignment.
A skilled chiropractor will often use massage techniques in the area of the body where it is required in order to generate warmth, blood flow and relaxation.
Thai Massage techniques could also be used to prepare the patient’s body for an adjustment.
For example, if a patient needs a shoulder adjustment, the Thai Massage “cobra” pose could be done beforehand to achieve maximum stretch and position. These elements could be determined in the middle of an adjustment as a strategic method.
Thai Massage AFTER the chiropractic adjustment
There also are instances where Thai Massage could be used after your chiropractic adjustment.
Oftentimes, a chiropractor will recommend certain activities, including exercise, stretches, complimentary massage, diet and supplements to make sure the adjustment holds.
So, after your adjustment, Thai Massage can be used in the following ways:
5. It can be part of a chiropractic “care plan”
Thai Massage is a great complementary therapy to enhance your flexibility and restore your wellness. It’s even good for injury resistance, since having flexible muscles along your spine makes it more fortified when you bend over or exercise.
In addition, Thai Massage can help with overuse injuries, since it’s a diverse technique that rarely draws on just one muscle group.
A case study: lower back pain
One common injury that I see in chiropractic is lower back pain.Lots of patients come in with lower back pain which they first noticed at the office after sitting in a chair all day.
When it comes to lower back pain, there are usually a few things that have gone wrong: pain, tense muscles, restricted range of motion and spinal misalignment.
To restore the lower back, we will often work on several different areas, including building range of motion, reducing pain and doing an adjustment.
In this case, chiropractic and Thai Massage would work extremely well together. Thai Massage could be used before, during and after to prolong the muscular looseness, reduce pain and hold the adjustment for longer.
They can work hand in hand to speed up the patient’s recovery time and make sure that both tension and spinal alignment are being cared for.
Final takeaway
Thai Massage, as well as other massage techniques, are a helpful way of boosting adjustments and therapies during your chiropractic sessions. By coupling chiropractic with these techniques, you’re sure to see positive results.
Ask about Thai Massage at a chiropractic clinic near you to get customized information about how you can incorporate it before, during and after your next adjustment.
Visit Thai Healing Massage Academy’s online training library with 20 Thai Massage courses for all your training needs and all levels of skills.
About Dr. Brent Wells
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. has been a chiropractor for over 20 years and has treated thousands of patients.
He is the founder of Better Health Chiropractic in Anchorage and Juneau offering chiropractic care, physical rehab therapy and massage therapy.
Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe and Lifehack. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians.
And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.
Great article Shama, `Thai massage need everyone and every situation.