A medical massage—also known as a therapeutic massage—is a growing treatment in the medical community as an alternative therapy for many soft-tissue injuries. If you are looking into a safe treatment or your doctor mentioned a medical massage, the guide below can help you determine if it could be right for you.

What Is a Medical Massage?

A medical massage is a complementary treatment usually prescribed by a physician for people who have been diagnosed with a soft-tissue injury or a psychological disorder. These massages are only performed by specialized therapists who are certified as medical massage therapists. Therapeutic massages incorporate a variety of hands-on pressure techniques to release tension, relax and safely stretch muscles, and increase blood circulation. In many cases, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a specialist, but insurance companies may cover medical massages if prescribed by a doctor.

What Types of Injuries Can This Massage Treat?

This massage treats sciatica, carpal tunnel, back and neck pain, knee and shoulder pain, sports- and work-related injuries, and chronic pain. Therapists also practice this technique to relieve stiff or painful joints and decrease spasms and nerve pain.

What Are the Benefits of This Technique?

There are many benefits to getting a therapeutic massage. On a psychological side, massage has been shown to relieve a variety of emotional symptoms like stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue, and hyperactivity. It can even increase your sense of calmness and your energy. On a physical level, massages enhance soft tissue healing, restore muscle and joint flexibility, improve posture, reduce inflammation, relieve migraine pain, improve circulation, and reduce muscle tension in specific areas.

If you sustained an injury or have chronic pain that won’t go away, consult Montvale Health Sport + Spine in Montvale, NJ. Their highly trained and compassionate staff offers personalized care for a variety of injuries, from sports rehabilitation to therapeutic massages. Call (201) 391-8282 to schedule an appointment or visit their website to learn more about their medically-supervised programs.