SL Downtown Physiotherapy & Massage
Unit 1-1 Main Street NE, Slave Lake, Alberta T0G 2A2
Physiotherapy vs. Massage Therapy: Which is better
Below are several important factors regarding the role of Physiotherapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
When it comes to drug-free treatments for various chronic and acute injuries, individuals often find themselves confused between massage therapy and physiotherapy. Although there are differences between these two types of natural healing processes, the key to achieving a faster recovery lies in combining both modalities.
The main objective of both physiotherapy and massage therapy is to alleviate muscle tension, pain, and spasms in order to restore optimal health.
However, before delving into the benefits in which this remarkable combination can positively impact your well-being, it is crucial to comprehend the distinct characteristics of each treatment. This way, if you are interested in both, you will have a comprehensive understanding of each approach.
Understanding physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a treatment method based on scientific evidence that is focusses on preventing, treating, and managing movement disorders. It encompasses evaluating, diagnosing, and treating physical ailments like musculoskeletal injuries, neurological disorders, and chronic pain. The primary objective of physiotherapy is to enhance the body’s function and enhance the overall quality of life. Due to its endorsement by medical professionals such as doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare providers, physiotherapy has become a trusted method for managing pain without the use of medication.
Understanding massage therapy
Physiotherapy focuses on enhancing physical responses based on your diagnosis, while massage therapy can complement this approach. For instance, therapeutic massages administered by a registered massage therapist can elicit a relaxation response, alleviate trigger points, and enhance flexibility. These benefits contribute to positive physiological changes in your body, ultimately improving your overall health.
The term ‘relaxation response’ encompasses more than just a calm mental state. It involves a decrease in heart and breathing rates, lower blood pressure, and a reduction in stress hormone production. Consequently, massage therapy helps alleviate the physiological effects of stress, lowers the risk of hypertension, reduces acute fatigue, and addresses various physical dysfunctions.
The Benefits of Combining Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy?
Our muscles are in a constant state of activity. When our muscles are injured, whether through an accident or otherwise, it results in pain and a decrease in blood flow to the affected area. For damaged muscles to heal, it is crucial to maintain a steady flow of blood to ensure the health of the surrounding tissues.
Physiotherapy is often effective in relieving muscle tension and improving mobility. However, during times of high tension, it is not always guaranteed that blood flow will be uniform. This is where massage therapy can be a valuable complementary treatment.
Therapies such as Sports Massage, Swedish massage and Deep Tissue Massage promote continuous blood flow throughout the muscles, allowing them to receive a higher level of nutrients. By incorporating these massage techniques, individuals can prevent muscle weakness and expedite the recovery process.
When combined with physiotherapy, massage therapy not only alleviates various types of pain but also enhances the functional capacity of muscles through biomechanical loading.
Combined therapy provides better results
It is undeniable that scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of combining massage and physiotherapy for the healing of your body. Here are five primary ways in which massages complement physiotherapy treatments, including electrotherapy, soft tissue mobilization, range of motion (ROM) exercises, and more.
Faster recovery
Physiotherapy is often a reliable means of recovery. However, in certain cases, muscle stiffness can impede progress, necessitating patience on the part of clients to observe the effectiveness of their efforts. In this specific scenario, a combination of massage therapy could prove advantageous.
When massages are administered to aid in muscle relaxation following an injury or surgery, it enables clients to perform exercises accurately. Scientifically proven to have a calming effect on the nervous system, massages facilitate deeper stretches with a wider range of motion. These stretches are crucial for treatment and contribute to a speedier recovery.
Relaxation massage, therapeutic massage, and deep tissue massage are commonly recommended by therapists for those seeking a smooth and expedited recovery. Deep tissue massage, for instance, involves applying pressure to the injured areas, effectively breaking down collagen fibers and adhesions. These elements are often responsible for heightened pain and hindered recovery.
By eliminating collagen fibers and adhesions, blood flow improves, and movement becomes more fluid, free from tension. Consequently, stress hormones no longer impede the recovery process.
As a result, massage therapy allows muscles to become more receptive to care, thereby facilitating the physiotherapist’s work and creating a positive recovery experience for the client.
Extensive medical treatment
The human body is an intricate system where all its components must collaborate and provide support to one another. Conditions like fibromyalgia and lower back pain, which affect the muscles, necessitate physical therapy and rehabilitation in order to restore smooth functioning and achieve a healthier, pain-free, and active lifestyle. What sets this treatment plan apart is the comprehensive physical examination conducted by a physiotherapist to assess the severity of your symptoms. Based on this evaluation, your physician will identify the specific areas that need to be targeted in order to restore proper bodily function.
Once this assessment is complete, your treatment will encompass both passive and active therapies. Passive treatments are typically administered first and do not require any active physical exertion on your part. Their purpose is to teach your body how to relax. Techniques such as hot and cold therapies, deep tissue massage, and ultrasounds are among the effective passive methods employed to prepare your body for active treatments, such as exercise.
Although extensive treatments may be more time-consuming, their effects are long-lasting. By employing two different types of techniques simultaneously, this approach ensures meticulous attention to detail, enabling every part of your body to regain optimal function and vitality. As your journey towards recovery may be prolonged, your massage therapist can also assist you in improving your posture, which is often a primary contributor to lower back pain and muscle cramps.
Improves flexibility
When an accident or injury occurs, it is common for a joint in the body to lose its full range of motion or flexibility. This limitation indicates that something is hindering the joint’s movement. This can lead to mechanical issues with the joint, swelling of the surrounding tissues, severe pain, or muscle spasticity.
Athletes often encounter this problem due to their active lifestyles. Similarly, individuals who have recently started lifting heavy weights may experience reduced range of motion as their muscles tear from the intense activity.
To restore the body to its normal state, physiotherapy requires the movement of all muscles and joints. However, this process becomes challenging when range of motion is limited. This is where massage therapy becomes beneficial.
Clinical massage helps to relax the muscles and alleviate tension between them. As a result, it improves range of motion and enhances the effectiveness of physiotherapy sessions. Clients will soon notice increased movement and flexibility in their soft tissues, ligaments, and muscles.
Without this flexibility, the progress of physiotherapy sessions may be slower.
Improves Overall wellness
The benefits of receiving a massage go beyond just relaxation. Not only does it promote proper circulation of nutrients and lymph fluid, but it also helps reduce swelling and improve muscle flexibility, tone, and strength. Combining massage therapy with physiotherapy can enhance the body’s natural healing abilities and maintain proper alignment.
By incorporating both massages and physiotherapy into your healthcare routine, you can minimize the risk of muscle spasms, soreness, and discomfort. This combination ensures optimal lymphatic circulation and efficient nerve impulse transmission, leading to a healthier nervous system and overall well-being.
Furthermore, this integrated approach can also enhance your body’s response to injuries. With regular sessions, your body becomes more resilient and better equipped to recover from accidents or injuries quickly and effectively.
Improves Overall wellness
Our mental state can greatly impact our physical recovery when dealing with severe health issues such as muscle injuries, acute pain, or arthritis-related injuries. It is common for clients undergoing physiotherapy to experience slow progress due to anxiety and tension related to their condition.
For physiotherapy to be effective, it is essential for both the body and mind to remain calm. Stressing over the recovery process can hinder progress. This is where massage therapy can play a crucial role in helping the body embrace physiotherapy and its advantages.
Massages can help alleviate stress and anxiety, leading to a reduction in cortisol levels by 30% and triggering a relaxation response in the body. The release of dopamine and serotonin during massages can have a calming effect on the nerves.
By achieving a state of mental ease, individuals can approach their physiotherapy sessions with confidence. This newfound mindset allows for a more positive outlook and a willingness to face the challenges that come with the journey to better health. Ultimately, while physical recovery is important, it is often our mental well-being that determines the speed of our return to optimal health.