When it comes to maintaining your musculoskeletal health, both chiropractic care and massage therapy are powerful tools. Many patients benefit from integrating the two therapies to address pain, stiffness, or postural concerns, but a common question arises: Should you see your Vancouver chiropractor before or after a massage?

The answer isn’t the same for everyone—it depends on your body’s needs, the condition you’re treating, and your overall health goals. Let’s dive into the benefits of both approaches, compare their order of effectiveness, and provide insights on how to maximize results from combining chiropractic and massage therapy.

The Connection Between Chiropractic Care and Massage Therapy

Chiropractic care focuses on correcting misalignments in the spine and joints, restoring proper nerve function, and improving overall biomechanics. On the other hand, massage therapy targets the soft tissues—muscles, tendons, and fascia—by relieving tension, improving circulation, and reducing pain.

When used together, these therapies complement each other:

  • Massage therapy relaxes tight muscles that may be pulling on joints and contributing to misalignment.

  • Chiropractic adjustments restore spinal and joint alignment, which may improve the effectiveness and longevity of massage results.

Because the body is an interconnected system, addressing both muscles and joints can provide more comprehensive and lasting relief than focusing on one therapy alone.

Seeing a Chiropractor Before a Massage

One common approach is to schedule chiropractic care before massage therapy.

Benefits of Seeing the Chiropractor First:

  1. Corrects Joint Misalignments Before Muscle Relaxation
    A chiropractic adjustment realigns your spine and joints. Once the skeletal framework is in place, massage can then focus on soft tissue areas that may have been compensating for those misalignments.

  2. Maximizes Nervous System Function
    Chiropractic adjustments help improve nerve communication. By aligning the spine first, your nervous system may respond better to massage techniques, potentially enhancing relaxation and pain relief.

  3. Improved Range of Motion Before Massage
    If a joint is restricted, massage may be less effective because tight muscles are often a result of that restriction. Adjustments can free up the range of motion, allowing massage therapy to reach deeper layers of muscle more comfortably.

  4. Better Posture Reset
    When your chiropractor restores alignment first, the massage therapist can then focus on supporting your new posture by loosening tight or overworked muscles.

Ideal For:

  • Patients with significant joint restrictions or spinal misalignments.

  • Those experiencing nerve compression symptoms (e.g., sciatica, tingling, or numbness).

  • People seeking posture correction as a main goal.

Seeing a Chiropractor After a Massage

Many patients, however, find that getting a massage before their chiropractic session works better for them.

Benefits of Seeing the Chiropractor After a Massage:

  1. Muscles Are Relaxed, Making Adjustments Easier
    Tight, tense muscles can resist chiropractic adjustments. Massage helps release muscle tension, making the body more receptive to gentle, effective adjustments.

  2. Decreases Discomfort During Adjustments
    If you’re sore, stiff, or experiencing muscle spasms, a massage before chiropractic care can make the adjustment process smoother and more comfortable.

  3. Improves Adjustment Longevity
    Relaxed muscles are less likely to pull joints back out of alignment. This means your chiropractic adjustment may hold longer when preceded by massage therapy.

  4. Boosts Circulation and Healing
    Massage increases blood flow to the muscles and tissues. Following it with chiropractic care may improve your body’s healing response and overall recovery process.

Ideal For:

  • Patients with very tight muscles or chronic tension.

  • Individuals with stress-related pain or headaches.

  • People who find adjustments uncomfortable without prior muscle relaxation.

Which Comes First? It Depends on Your Goals

So, should you see your Vancouver chiropractor before or after a massage? The answer depends on what you want to achieve:

  • Pain relief from tight muscles and stress: Massage before chiropractic.

  • Posture correction and long-term spinal alignment: Chiropractic before massage.

  • Chronic pain conditions (like sciatica, headaches, or low back pain): A combination, alternating the order depending on your symptoms.

  • Athletic performance or injury recovery: Massage first to loosen muscles, then chiropractic to optimize alignment.

Many clinics that offer both services may recommend alternating approaches based on your progress, your condition, and how your body responds.

Combining the Two for the Best Results

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The most effective approach may be to incorporate both therapies regularly and see what order works best for your unique body.

Tips for Maximizing Results:

  1. Communicate with Both Practitioners
    Let your chiropractor and massage therapist know if you’re combining therapies. They can tailor your sessions to work together more effectively.

  2. Space Out Sessions if Needed
    Some patients prefer same-day treatments, while others benefit from spacing chiropractic and massage appointments by a day or two. Experiment and see which timing your body responds to best.

  3. Listen to Your Body
    Pay attention to how you feel after each session. If adjustments feel easier after massage, stick with that order. If you notice longer-lasting posture improvements after adjusting first, keep that routine.

  4. Be Consistent
    Like exercise or stretching, the benefits of chiropractic care and massage accumulate over time. Regular sessions—whether weekly, biweekly, or monthly—can help maintain spinal health and muscle balance.

Common Patient Scenarios

To make things more relatable, here are a few examples of how the order might matter:

  • Desk Worker with Stiff Shoulders and Poor Posture:
    Chiropractic first to correct spinal alignment, followed by massage to relieve tight neck and shoulder muscles.

  • Athlete Recovering from Training:
    Massage first to release lactic acid and tightness, then chiropractic to restore full joint mobility.

  • Patient with Stress-Induced Tension Headaches:
    Massage first to relieve muscle tightness at the base of the skull, then chiropractic to correct misalignments in the cervical spine.

  • Chronic Low Back Pain Sufferer:
    Alternating the order, depending on whether stiffness (favoring massage first) or alignment (favoring chiropractic first) is the main concern that week.

Both chiropractic care and massage therapy play important roles in promoting musculoskeletal health, reducing pain, and enhancing overall well-being. The order in which you schedule them—chiropractic before massage, or massage before chiropractic—depends on your goals, your physical condition, and personal preference.

Ultimately, the best way to know what works for you is to try both approaches and observe the results. Many patients find that a flexible schedule, sometimes starting with massage and other times with chiropractic, provides the most comprehensive benefits.

If you’re unsure, speak with your Vancouver chiropractor or massage therapist. Together, they can design a plan tailored to your body’s unique needs—helping you achieve long-term relief, better posture, and improved overall health.

Article by: Dr. Farokh Zavosh

Burrard Chiropractic and Foot Orthotics – Vancouver Chiropractor