Chiropractor vs Massage: Which Treatment Is Best?

If you are looking for relief from any aches, pain, or injury you may have wondered what treatment is right for you.

While chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy aim to accomplish similar goals, there are some key differences between the two treatments. 

We will explore the question of chiropractor vs massage therapy further in this article.

Comparing Chiropractor vs Massage Treatments

Chiropractic Treatments



A chiropractor will mainly focus on treating your musculoskeletal structure. So if your pain stems from your bones, cartilage, ligaments, or connective tissues you are best suited to visit a chiropractor. 

The most common culprits of pain that will warrant a chiropractor visit are chronic pain from your spine and pelvis. 

A chiropractor will focus on addressing the root cause of your pain, whether it is misalignment, damage, or structural issues in your connective tissues. 

Once the cause of the pain has been determined we will work on a treatment plan that attacks the pain in different ways. The most common treatment will involve hands on, non-invasive manual adjustments of your musculoskeletal structure. Treatment also can include a stretching and exercise routine for you to perform at home, 

Massage Therapy

Massage therapists are specialists at treating soft tissue & muscle aches and pains in your body. 

Massage therapy is also a blanket term for a wide range of treatments that aim to achieve different pain relief results. 

For example a deep tissue massage aims at relieving tensions within the deepest layers of your muscles with intense finger pressure. Whereas the goal of a myofascial massage is to relieve tensions around the Fascia by stretching and massaging the area. 

A massage will help trigger an increase in blood flow and oxygen to the affected area. This increase in oxygen and blood flow will help relieve tension, stiffness, pain, and also can help strengthen the muscles.

When To See A Chiropractor

Now you know that the biggest difference between chiropractic treatment and massage therapy can be summed in treating Hard Tissue and Soft Tissue. 

One of the best courses of action you can take is to book an initial assessment with our team at Core Clinic. 

We can help determine the cause of your pain with many tools from posture assessments, to orthopedic testing, neurological testing and more. Once the cause of your pain is understood by Dr. Vollrath can determine if our treatments are best for you.