Two Most Common Pain Relief Differences

Getting fit and keeping fit is more a lifestyle than a program — it’s a life-long dedication that you have to commit to. And that means a lot of hard work. It doesn’t matter what you train for, there will always be sweat and bodily pain involved. It’s how you develop your muscles, after all.

So, first let’s talk about why your body hurts post-workout. Muscles are developed by putting them under tension for a sustained period. Not only that, but they are developed by their repeated extension and contraction. This causes microtears in your muscles and is what brings about the pain you feel when your muscles are sore.

Your body automatically uses nutrients (protein in particular) in order to repair these microtears. As a result, your muscles become denser and bigger, thus granting you more strength in movements in which those muscles are involved.

But I’m going to be honest here. Nobody likes muscle soreness, especially when it’s more intense than what they’re normally used to. And while stretches can actually help relieve muscle soreness, there are just those times that you really need to opt for the help of professionals.

Now, the two most common solutions are massage and chiropractic therapy.

How Do They Differ from Each Other?

Chiropractors specialize in treating the entire musculoskeletal system, including muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments. They are able to diagnose and treat health conditions related to your muscular and skeletal system. They are also able to give nutritional advice, as well as recommend vitamins and training regimens.

On the other hand, massage therapists specialize in treating muscles. They are able to perform various types of massages which include Swedish massage, sports massage, and deep tissue massage.

When Should I Visit One or the Other?

Typically, you’re going to want to visit a chiropractor first, especially if you’re experiencing intense muscle soreness. This is because even though massage therapists are experts in treating muscle soreness, chiropractors are able to diagnose you better. In some cases, muscle soreness may not be the problem itself, but rather an indicator of a worse underlying problem that’s just beginning to develop. In fact, it should be a rule of thumb to go for an emergency chiropractor visit as soon as you start feeling intense pain after an exercise.

Now, if you’re not exactly in any real pain, and it’s just the “pump” that you feel from your exercise, then a massage therapist will fit the bill nicely.

Conclusion

The main determinant of whether you should visit a chiropractor first or if you should simply go straight to a massage therapist is pain. If there’s something wrong with your body, your brain is going to register it as an intense pain. Take note that it should be painful enough to restrict your range of motion. That should be the basis for comparison — one can’t really give a standard measurement of pain because we each have different pain thresholds.

So, the best way is to check if the pain is enough to restrict movement. If you’re still able to extend and contract your muscle, then that’s simply the “pump” you’re experiencing.