Is a chiropractor or massage better for knots?

Author: Lenna Marquardt  |  Last update: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Muscle knots, or trigger points, respond particularly well to massage therapy. A skilled therapist can apply targeted pressure to these tight areas, improving blood flow and easing tension. However, if the knots are caused by spinal misalignment or poor posture, chiropractic care can help address the underlying issue.

Can a chiropractor get rid of muscle knots?

Muscle knots may cause dysfunction if left untreated. Chiropractic care eases the tightness and tenderness of the impacted tissues. Additionally, spinal manipulation realigns the spine, restoring your range of motion and relieving tension in the affected tissues and joints.

Do massages actually get knots out?

Massage therapy techniques can help to relieve, reduce or even prevent muscle knots. Deep tissue massage or sports massage techniques work on the muscles that are tight or have the knots. Trigger point massage can be firm and specific pressure to the areas of restriction or “knots” and cause release of that knot.

What are the red flags of chiropractors?

They may claim that without care, your condition will rapidly worsen or cause serious health problems. Ethical chiropractors rely on science, not fear. 🛑 Doesn't Allow Questions – If a chiropractor gets defensive, avoids answering questions, or rushes through explanations, that's a major red flag.

Is it better to get a massage or chiropractor first?

If you do the massage first, it will loosen up and relax your muscles, allowing better flexibility. That can be important when it comes to spinal manipulations. However, if you do the chiropractic treatment afterward, your spine will be in alignment, which will help the muscles settle back into the proper position.

Massage Therapy VS Chiropractic (Better for health?)

How do you tell if you need a chiropractor or massage?

The main goal of a chiropractor is to release subluxations in the spine to make sure that your body and your nervous system are at their optimal level. Massage therapist is focusing on treating muscular conditions only and they aim to relieve muscle pain, tension, and stiffness.

Why do you tip a massage therapist but not a chiropractor?

Unlike a massage therapist at the spa, tipping your chiropractor is unnecessary. Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who help with muscle and bone problems. When you visit them, it's like going to see your regular doctor. You don't tip your regular doctor, and the same goes for chiropractors.

What toxins are released after chiropractic adjustment?

No, Chiropractic Adjustments Do Not Cause “Toxic Release” “Toxins” is a vague word that doesn't really mean anything. Chiropractic adjustments greatly improve your body's natural healing abilities, but there is not a specific toxin release that will make you feel sicker or healthier after an adjustment.

What are the disadvantages of chiropractic?

Many people find relief from their ailments through chiropractic treatment, but there are risks and drawbacks. Safety concerns include spinal manipulation injuries. Aggressive adjustments have caused strokes and nerve damage in rare cases. The lack of chiropractic regulation raises safety concerns.

How can you tell a good chiropractor from a bad one?

A good chiropractor will answer all of your questions and help you understand your treatment plan. They will do anything to make you feel comfortable while showing empathy and building a personal connection with you. A bad chiropractor will rush the treatment and won't care about your needs or feelings.

Why does my knot still hurt after massaging it?

If you're experiencing muscle soreness after a massage it is because the soft tissues have been manipulated to break down adhesions, knots and holding patterns to restore muscle condition to a functional state.

What type of massage is best for knots?

Deep tissue: The best massage to relieve stress and muscle tension. Deep tissue massage can loosen painful “knots” and realign deeper layers of muscle through a combination of firm pressure and slow strokes. Your therapist will not only work on the usual muscles but on the connective tissue as well.

What does it feel like when a knot releases?

This myofascial release has a comparable sensation to being rocked by your mother when you were a baby. It causes a pleasant wave sensation to travel throughout the body. It is, in fact, a relaxing experience. That wave infiltrates the restricted areas to allow for softening.

Do muscle relaxers help release knots?

Medication: Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can help muscle knot soreness. Possible prescription medications include antidepressants or muscle relaxers. These medications can relax tension, lower pain, and promote sleep.

Is massage or chiropractor better for knots?

Muscle knots, or trigger points, respond particularly well to massage therapy. A skilled therapist can apply targeted pressure to these tight areas, improving blood flow and easing tension. However, if the knots are caused by spinal misalignment or poor posture, chiropractic care can help address the underlying issue.

What kind of doctor treats muscle knots?

Physiatrists (medical doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation). Pain management specialists. Rheumatologists. Orthopedists.

When not to go to a chiropractor?

Don't seek a chiropractic adjustment if you have: Severe osteoporosis. Numbness, tingling, or loss of strength in an arm or leg. Cancer in your spine.

What happens when a chiropractor cracks your neck?

When a chiropractor cracks your neck, the cracking sound is actually gas bubbles being released from the joints. It is not your bones cracking or breaking. The process is called cavitation and it helps to improve joint mobility and relieve tension.

Is it better to go to a chiropractor or physical therapist?

While chiropractors specialize in effecting quick and temporary relief from sciatica, headaches, sports and car-accident injuries, physical therapists specialize in facilitating recovery and improving mobility through methods that are slower but ultimately effect more sustainable progress by making patients active ...

Why did I cry after chiropractor?

Crying after a chiropractic session is a vital reaction as the body releases pent-up emotions along with the physical tension. Hormonal changes following an adjustment can also contribute to increased emotional vulnerability, further amplifying the likelihood of an emotional response.

Why do I feel sick after a chiropractor?

It's common for people to feel unwell after receiving chiropractic care. Some people experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. When the chiropractor adjusts your spine, the process releases toxins built up due to injury or poor posture.

Is it normal to poop a lot after a chiropractic adjustment?

It is common for patients to experience larger bowel movements after adjustments as the body adapts to the new spinal alignment. Initially, increased bowel movements post-adjustment may be concerning for some patients, but it is generally considered a positive indication of the body responding to the treatment.

What is proper etiquette when getting a massage?

10 tips to get the most from your massage
  1. Be as receptive and open to the massage process as possible.
  2. Don't eat just before a massage session. ...
  3. Be on time. ...
  4. Take off only as much clothing as you are comfortable removing. ...
  5. Communicate with your massage therapist. ...
  6. Remember to breathe normally.

Can a chiropractor refer to massage therapy?

Now the chiropractor can in fact refer a patient for massage. And a massage therapist can exercise decision making and decide what to do and so forth.

Is it rude to not tip for a massage?

Since tips are standard protocol for a private masseuse, you should assume a 20 percent tip in any massage or spa treatment situation (unless a self-employed therapist specifically tells you their rate is all-inclusive). Not sure? When in doubt, always ask, says Post, who says tipping is always appreciated.

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