The primary purpose of a chiropractor is to eliminate subluxations in the spine, restoring its natural alignment and balance. This is done by manipulating the spine to ensure that your body and nervous system are functioning optimally. On the other hand, massage therapists focus on treating muscle conditions only, aiming to reduce muscle pain, tension, and stiffness. They are trained to release tension in muscles by using a variety of techniques, such as releasing muscle adhesions (knots), the fascia (layer of connective tissue between muscles and bones), or simply reducing muscle tension. However, the main goal of massage therapy is to address the fact that the muscle is tight, not necessarily what causes them to contract in the first place.
Massage therapy focuses especially on muscles and soft tissues, and works mainly on those problem areas to relieve pain. These two approaches demonstrate how chiropractic and massage are actually very different in terms of how they work and the results they seek to achieve.
