Back pain is the most common reason people walk through our doors at Richmond and Bundoora. Two of the most popular treatments are chiropractic care and remedial massage — and one of the questions we hear most is: which one should I book?
The honest answer is that it depends on what's driving your pain. Here's a plain-language guide to help you decide.
What chiropractic care focuses on
Chiropractic care centres on how your spine and joints move. Your chiropractor assesses joint mobility, alignment and nervous system function, then uses specific adjustments (manipulation) and other techniques to restore normal movement.
It's often the better starting point when pain feels deep and stiff, when it came on after a specific movement or injury, or when it's referring into the hip, leg or arm.
- Sharp or catching pain with certain movements
- Stiffness that limits how far you can turn or bend
- Pain referring into the buttock, leg or arm
- Pain after a lift, twist or sudden movement
What remedial massage focuses on
Remedial massage works on the soft tissues — muscles, tendons and fascia. A remedial massage therapist uses assessment, deep tissue techniques, trigger point therapy and stretching to release overloaded or guarded muscles.
It's often the better starting point when pain feels muscular, achy or tight, when it's linked to training load, desk posture or stress, or when the area feels tender to touch.
- Achy, tight or knotted muscles
- Pain that builds through the work week or after exercise
- Tenderness you can press on and reproduce
- Stress-related tension through the shoulders and back
Why the best answer is often both
Joints and muscles work together. A stiff joint makes surrounding muscles guard and tighten; tight muscles restrict joint movement. That's why our chiropractors and massage therapists work side by side in the same clinics — it's common to combine adjustments with soft tissue work in the same treatment plan.
At Uprise Health, your practitioner will tell you honestly if they think a different modality — or a combination — will get you a better result, and can refer you internally.
Still not sure?
You don't need to diagnose yourself before booking. Book with either discipline and your practitioner will assess you properly at your first visit, explain what they find, and recommend the right path — whether that's chiropractic, massage, or both.