At Advanced Spine & Rehab in Mesa, AZ, a complete staff of medical professionals provides specialized massage techniques designed to complement chiropractic care. These include deep tissue massage to address muscle adhesions, myofascial release for connective tissue mobility, and trigger point therapy to relieve localized tension. Each team member is trained in the latest treatment and rehabilitation techniques, ensuring every patient receives personalized, medically based care that enhances recovery, circulation, and overall musculoskeletal health.

What is Myofascial Release?

Myofascial release is a therapeutic technique used to relieve tension and restriction within the myofascial tissues—the connective layers surrounding muscles, nerves, and organs. Through gentle, sustained pressure and stretching, this method helps restore normal motion, reduce pain, and improve circulation. It is often applied to treat conditions involving chronic muscle tightness, postural imbalances, or trauma-related restrictions, promoting better alignment, flexibility, and overall musculoskeletal function.

Is it Better to See a Chiropractor or Massage Therapist First?

The choice depends on your condition and goals. If you’re experiencing joint misalignment, nerve irritation, or spinal discomfort, seeing a chiropractor first is often best, as they can assess structural issues and create a treatment plan. A massage therapist is ideal when the main concern involves muscle tension or soft tissue pain. Many patients benefit from a combination approach—chiropractic adjustments followed by therapeutic massage—to optimize recovery and long-term mobility.

Can Massage Help with Misalignment?

Massage therapy can support the correction of misalignment by relaxing tight muscles and fascia that pull joints and vertebrae out of proper position. While massage alone cannot realign the spine, it reduces muscular resistance and inflammation, allowing chiropractic adjustments to be more effective and longer-lasting. By improving blood flow and decreasing tension, massage therapy enhances the body’s natural ability to maintain alignment, reduce pain, and restore balanced movement patterns.

What is the Difference Between Myofascial Massage and Myofascial Release?

While both techniques target the myofascial tissues, their goals and methods differ. Myofascial massage uses rhythmic pressure and movement to relax muscles and improve circulation, often integrated into a traditional massage session. Myofascial release, on the other hand, involves applying slow, sustained pressure to specific areas of restriction to restore tissue elasticity and mobility. The release technique focuses more on therapeutic correction and long-term improvement rather than general relaxation.

Do Massage Guns Do Myofascial Release?

Massage guns can help reduce muscle tension and improve circulation, but they do not perform true myofascial release. Myofascial release requires sustained, precise pressure applied manually to stretch and soften the fascia—something percussion devices cannot replicate. Massage guns primarily provide percussive or vibrational therapy, which may temporarily relieve tightness and soreness but lacks the controlled engagement needed to release fascial restrictions at a therapeutic level.

Symptoms Someone Would Notice That Would Prompt Deep Tissue Massage and Chiropractic Care?

Chronic Muscle Tightness – Persistent tension in the neck, shoulders, or back often indicates muscle imbalance or postural strain. Deep tissue massage helps release adhesions and improve circulation, while chiropractic adjustments restore joint alignment to reduce recurring stiffness and discomfort.

Limited Range of Motion – Difficulty turning the head, bending, or lifting may signal joint restriction or soft tissue tightness. Combined therapy increases flexibility by relaxing tight muscles and realigning affected joints, improving movement and daily function.

Recurring Headaches – Tension-type or cervicogenic headaches often stem from neck misalignment and muscular strain. Chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve pressure, while targeted massage reduces muscular tension and improves blood flow to the head and neck region.

Lower Back Pain – Often caused by poor posture, injury, or spinal misalignment, lower back pain benefits from joint correction and muscle release. The combination promotes spinal stability, relieves pressure on nerves, and supports long-term pain management.

Postural Imbalances – Rounded shoulders or uneven hips can result from repetitive stress or muscle weakness. Chiropractic care corrects spinal alignment, and deep tissue massage retrains supportive muscles, promoting balanced posture and reducing compensatory strain throughout the body.

Medical Causes of Symptoms Related to Deep Tissue Massage and Chiropractic Care

Muscle Strain or Overuse – Repetitive stress, poor posture, or overexertion can cause microtears in muscle fibers, leading to tightness, inflammation, and chronic discomfort.

Spinal Misalignment (Subluxation) – Vertebral misalignment can irritate surrounding nerves, restrict motion, and cause compensatory muscle tension throughout the back and neck.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome – Trigger points within the fascia create localized pain and stiffness that often radiate to other areas, limiting movement and flexibility.

Degenerative Disc Disease – Gradual disc wear reduces spinal cushioning, causing nerve irritation, inflammation, and referred muscular pain or tension.

Postural Dysfunction – Prolonged poor posture alters spinal curvature, leading to muscular imbalance, restricted mobility, and increased risk of chronic pain conditions.

Medical Treatments for Symptoms Requiring Deep Tissue Massage and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic Adjustments – Manual spinal manipulation restores proper joint alignment, reduces nerve compression, and improves biomechanics, enhancing overall mobility and reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy – Targets deeper muscle layers to release adhesions, improve circulation, and decrease inflammation, aiding in the long-term recovery of strained or overused tissues.

Myofascial Release Therapy – Applies sustained pressure to restricted fascia, restoring elasticity and reducing pain by improving tissue mobility and relieving chronic tension patterns.

Physical Rehabilitation Exercises – Custom corrective movements strengthen weak areas, stabilize the spine, and enhance flexibility, promoting postural correction and preventing recurrent injury or strain.

Spinal Decompression Therapy – A gentle, traction-based technique that relieves pressure on spinal discs, improves nutrient flow, and reduces nerve irritation associated with disc degeneration or herniation.

Summary

This article explains how deep tissue massage and chiropractic care work together to treat musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. It identifies common symptoms, such as chronic tension, headaches, and postural imbalance, and outlines underlying causes like misalignment and muscle overuse. Medical treatments, including chiropractic adjustments, myofascial release, and rehabilitation exercises, aim to restore alignment, reduce inflammation, and promote long-term recovery. Together, these approaches provide safe, evidence-based care to improve spinal health, mobility, and overall physical wellness.

Meet The Professional Staff

At Advanced Spine & Rehab in the Phoenix East Valley, we are dedicated to providing individualized care with compassion, understanding, and integrity. Our calm and encouraging environment allows you to relax and focus on healing while our experienced medical professionals create a personalized treatment plan designed for your unique needs. Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing chronic pain, or seeking improved mobility, our goal is to help you find lasting relief, renewed balance, and a healthier path to recovery.