Now, you might ask and rightfully so, “What is the difference between a massage therapy and chiropractic therapy?” Well, I will be happy to tell you:
Chiropractic Therapy
• For the most part, chiropractic therapy focuses on the hard tissues such as the spine and other joints for adjusting and realignment. Chiropractors have some training in massage techniques but that is never their first and foremost priority.
• Chiropractors are authorized to make medical diagnosis, order x-rays or blood works.
• Chiropractors cannot prescribe conventional medications but they can sell supplements or homeopathic remedies.
• Chiropractors do not need medical referrals to perform their work.
Massage Therapy
• Massage therapists perform wonderful work on the soft body tissues such as the muscles, tendons and ligaments but they have not been trained nor are they licensed to adjust the spine or any other joints.
• Massage therapists may not legally make medical diagnosis, order x-rays or any blood work.
• Massage therapists are not permitted to dispense medications of Western medicine but they can and do provide or recommend alternative herbal remedies.
• Massage Therapists do not required referrals from anyone to conduct their massage sessions.
A recently conducted study in the United States asked to rate which alternative treatments worked best for their two biggest health problems for the past two years and the overwhelming majority voted just as I would have; for deep tissue massage therapy and chiropractic therapy in equal measures for such conditions as back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, respiratory problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, insomnia and prostate problems.
Of course, as far as alternative medicine is concerned, one should not discount acupuncture and reflexology for they too are beneficial in their own very special ways.