Difference Between Physical Therapy And Massage Therapy
Both physical therapy and massage therapy are similar in the fact they both use manual manipulation to treat inflammation in the body. However, where massage therapy targets the bodys soft tissues, tendons, muscles and fascia, physical therapy focuses on the entire musculoskeletal system.
Another point of difference between physical therapy and massage therapy is that the former is typically used for specific conditions that require rehabilitation. While massage therapy can also be used to help treat an injury, it is favoured as a type of maintenance therapy that can be used alongside physical therapy for optimum results.
What Is A Massage Therapist
Massage therapists practice a holistic approach to pain management and relief alongside stress and anxiety reduction by focusing on the body-mind connection to improve overall wellness. They primarily focus on manual muscle manipulation to target areas of concern. Massage typically takes place in a calm environment so the patient can relax while the therapist addresses their pain or discomfort.
People may seek, or fill a prescription, for massage therapy in the event of an auto accident, sports injury or another event that limits mobility or causes muscle pain. Therapists might offer advice on areas like encouraging better posture to enhance the patient’s results and prevent further injury. Massage therapy offers relief from several conditions, including:
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Pregnancy
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Circulation
Where To Get A Butt Massage
Physical therapists and massage therapists can both do butt massages. They are specially trained to stretch and manipulate these muscles for relaxation, strengthening, and recovery.
Physical therapists will likely perform the massage during a physical therapy appointment. It may be done in conjunction with a number of stretches or exercises.
A massage therapist can do a butt massage as part of an all-body massage. You can also ask them to specifically focus on the butt and any areas of pain or discomfort.
Medical insurance is unlikely to cover massage therapy, but some may cover massage therapy with a note and prescription from your doctor. The chance of insurance coverage is higher if the massage is performed for medically necessary reasons.
In many cases, medical insurance will cover massage as part of an appointment with a physical therapist as prescribed by a physician. Before you make an appointment, however, call your insurance company to verify whats covered and what additional paperwork might be necessary to have the procedure covered.
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Neck And Shoulder Pain
Massage therapy may provide short-term benefits for neck or shoulder pain.
What Does the Research Show?
- A 2016 review of four randomized controlled trials found that massage therapy may provide short-term benefits from neck pain. However, a 2012 Cochrane review of 15 trials on massage therapy for neck pain concluded that no recommendations for practice can be made at this time because the effectiveness of massage for neck pain remains uncertain.
- A 2013 review of 12 studies of massage for neck pain found that massage therapy was more helpful for both neck and shoulder pain than inactive therapies but was not more effective than other active therapies. For shoulder pain, massage therapy had short-term benefits only.
- A 2014 randomized controlled trial involving 228 participants with chronic nonspecific neck pain found that 60-minute massages given multiple times per week was more effective than fewer or shorter sessions. The participants were randomized to 5 groups receiving various doses of massage or to a single control group .
How Long Is It Going To Take
This is such a popular question. It seems that everyone has to have timelines, which is understandable because we all have lives to lead. Your physical therapist is aware that rehabilitation can be an imposition. I explain that because each person is different, rates of healing are different. I can usually get an idea of your progress within two weeks. I explain to my patients that even though they have other things to do, rehab is important. Although rehab takes time, it also took time for the injury to progress to the point of causing pain or contirbuting to injury.
Physical therapists want their patients to understand that although we are here to teach and rehabilitation them, their Home Program it is their responsibility. The Home Program is a major contributing factor to how quickly the patient recovers.
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Physical Therapy And Rehabilitation
If you have a condition associated with chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia or low back pain, it may seem strange that doing something activelike physical therapycan actually help alleviate your pain. But certain physical therapy and rehabilitation techniques can actually help you achieve a healthier and more active lifestyle.
With physical therapy, a physical therapist can help you improve your range of motion and your quality of life by creating a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan to reduce your pain and other symptoms.
Physical therapy and rehabilitation can relieve pain, especially if followed through with prescribed home exercises.
To determine your treatment plan, the physical therapist will perform a physical exam to assess your condition and the severity of your pain. He or she will also ask about your treatment goals and will work to help you learn how to cope with your pain.
An effective physical therapy treatment plan is one that includes both active and passive treatments. With passive treatments, you don’t have to actively participate in the treatment, but you do learn to relax your body.
Most physical therapy programs start off with passive treatments but theyll slowly progress to active treatments. With active treatments, youll learn beneficial exercises to help strengthen your muscles and deal with your pain and other symptoms.
Passive Physical Therapy Treatments
Butt Massage For Back Pain
More than 80 percent of Americans will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. For some people, the pain will be chronic and almost debilitating.
Before turning to surgery or prescription medicine, butt massage therapy may be an efficient way to ease back pain and improve range of motion.
Butt massage may help relieve back pain from:
- a bruise in the buttocks, such as from a fall or injury
- sciatica, a sharp, burning pain that radiates over the buttocks from the sciatic nerve
- herniated disc
- tailbone pain
- tight glutes
Massaging the butt helps relax the all-important gluteal muscles and eases pressure on other parts of the back, spine, and legs. When overworked or tight muscles can relax, they can recover more easily. This helps prevent muscle pain, strain, and damage.
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What Does A Physical Therapy Assistant Do
Physical therapy, on the other hand, is more focused. Patients are generally recovering from an accident or injury and trying to get back to full mobility quickly. Physical therapist assistants work with people recovering from back or neck injuries, neurological conditions, etc. They often work in ambulatory care clinics and hospitals.
What To Expect From Physical Therapy
When you visit a physical therapist, you can expect to start your care with an initial evaluation. Your therapist will ask questions about your injury and how it is affecting the way you move.
If you have had surgery, they will ask about the procedure performed and your pre- and post-operative course. Your therapist will also ask about your past medical history and your prior level of function.
Once they have a detailed history, your physical therapist will likely perform an examination, looking for issues that may be causing your pain or functional limitation.
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Why Does Physical Therapy Work
Physical therapy works because it helps you restore or regain function and strength lost due to injury. Some brain injury affects the motor neurons, the part of your brain that controls your muscles. If your muscles do not move, they become stiff and weak or even atrophy. Physical therapy would teach you techniques and exercises to re-learn how to use your muscles and regain movement. With a different type of brain injury, you might feel dizzy or clumsy. You may have also lost some limb function due to injury. Physical therapy can improve your coordination, balance, strength, energy, and physical independence.
In some cases, training with devices compensates for motor problems that may not improve. Especially if you have sustained a spinal cord injury on top of brain injury, or if you lost a limb, or have permanent loss of use of a limb. Physical therapy will help you learn how to use adaptive strategies and equipment so that you can regain independence despite your injuries.
Physical therapy also increases blood flow to your body, stretches ligaments, and reduces inflammation, all which promote healing. In addition to greater ease of mobility, physical exercise releases endorphins. Movement, especially after brain injury, helps with brain plasticity and overall wellness.
What Is Prostatic Massage
To perform a prostatic massage, a practitioner will place a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum and apply pressure to your prostate gland. The procedure is not normally painful, but some may find it uncomfortable.
Prostatic massage is thought to help men with ED by clearing the prostatic duct. Massage might also interrupt infections and eliminate blocked fluids. A few studies have found that men who get prostate massage for the symptoms of ED experience improvement.
Unfortunately, these studies have been small. Prostatic massage isnt considered a mainstream form of ED treatment. Even still, for some men, this alternative option may be helpful in addition to other forms of treatment.
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Finding A Physical Therapist
Finding a suitable physical therapist can involve a number of factors, including insurance acceptance, specialty and reason for treatment, and geographical location.
Insurance companies often have lists of physical therapy locations who participate in specific health plans. Other healthcare providers may have a list of therapists in the area whom they recommend.
Another way to find a physical therapist is to look online or access the APTA Find a PT web-based tool.
When You Might Need Pt
So when is a good time to visit a physical therapist and engage in a course of rehab? If you are feeling pain that limits your ability to walk, sit, or engage in your normal work or recreational activities, then you may benefit from working with a physical therapist. A home therapist may visit you in your house if you are unable to leave it due to your injury.
Likewise, if you have had surgery and are not moving well, working with a physical therapist may be a good idea. Your therapist can help you regain full mobility and help you return to your previous level of activity.
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Why Massage Therapy Is An Essential Part Of Physical Therapy
For clients coming back from an injury, a combination of massage and physical therapy may be required.
Integrating massage with physical therapy can optimise treatment and fast-track rehabilitation. Both manual therapies work to reduce pain & inflammation and improve mobility and muscle function. Massage can also be a useful add-on to physical therapy as a way to manage the stress that comes with chronic pain or injury.
When combined together, both massage therapy and physical therapy can serve as holistic comprehensive treatment delivering a range of short-term and long-term benefits.
Massage Therapy Vs Physical Therapy
Massage therapy and physical therapy have the same goal: to aid in healing, relieve pain and restore function of the body the only difference is that massage therapy is focusing on muscles and some soft tissues of the body to help relieve the pain and also the stress. Physical therapy or Physiotherapy, on the other hand, usually focuses on the body parts and provide rehabilitation to improve strength for it to work properly.
One of the similarities of massage therapy and physical therapy is that they both use massage. In spite of the fact that a massage therapist might utilize different kinds of massage, she doesnt utilize the extra medicines a physical specialist uses. A physical therapist work with people who have physical injuries like fractures while a massage therapists first goal is to make people relax, relieve pain and reduce stress by manipulating the muscles and soft tissues.
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Is Massage Therapy Better Than Physical Therapy
No Physical therapy and massage therapy are equally beneficial, depending upon the condition being treated.
If youre recovering from injury or need to restore function in your body, physical therapy will serve you best.
But, if youre hoping to relax and relieve sore muscles, youll want to choose massage therapy.
The Benefits Of Neuropathy Massage Therapy
In the United States, massage therapy is often considered part of complementary and alternative medicine , although it does have some conventional uses. It is increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.
While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found neuropathy massage treatment may also be helpful for:
- Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
- Lessen depression and anxiety
- Reduced fatigue
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How Are They Similar
The primary similarity between massage therapists and physical therapists is that both utilize hands-on soft tissue mobilization techniques. Often, the goals of both practitioners are similar: to ease pain and relieve tension. A massage therapist may use various tools in their treatment to accomplish this goal, such as hot stones, bamboo sticks, and hot towels. A PT may incorporate their advanced training in hands-on soft tissue and joint mobilization techniques, as well as their knowledge of corrective exercises, to work toward this goal. Both sessions can leave you feeling more relaxed and moving better.
Massage Therapist Vs Physical Therapist: What’s The Difference
Massage therapists and physical therapists have similar intentions for restoring function to the human body and managing pain. These professional healthcare team members approach health and healing in different ways based on their education and training. When deciding which career to pursue, it’s helpful to understand the distinctions between them, including the time commitment and licensing requirements. In this article, we define the job roles of a massage therapist vs. a physical therapist, outline the steps to become either and provide guidance for you to decide which career to pursue.
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Finding A Massage Therapist For Erectile Dysfunction
Although it may be tempting, internet videos for do-it-yourself prostatic massage likely wont be very helpful for your purposes.
If youre working with your urologist, your family health practitioner, or a sexual health expert already, ask them to help you locate a prostatic massage practitioner.
Some doctors who specialize in ED treatment may have a practitioner on staff or have one they can recommend to you. Some doctors may even perform prostatic massage themselves.
Make sure that the person you select is trained specifically for prostatic massage. A general massage therapist usually isnt capable of performing this specialized type of medical treatment.
Much like other types of massage, prostatic massage is designed to massage the tissues in and around your groin, gently but firmly. Depending on your symptoms, you may need more frequent treatments or a longer treatment period.
In , men underwent a massage treatment three to four times per week for at least 4 weeks. Prostate massage was shown to be effective as a treatment for prostatitis, one physical cause for ED.
Research is still limited on the efficacy of prostate massage for ED itself.
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Despite its benefits, massage isnt meant as a replacement for regular medical care. Let your doctor know youre trying massage therapy and be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have. Also ask about the number of treatments that might be needed, the cost, and insurance coverage. If a massage therapist suggests using other CAM practices , discuss it first with your regular health care provider.
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Physical Therapy And Massage: How Do They Work Together To Benefit You
Physical therapists specialize in the way your body moves.
They are trained to recognize any distorted postural patterns or habits, such as
- Forward head posture a.k.a. Tech/text Neck
- Rounded shoulder posture
As the name suggests, trigger point therapy targets specific trigger points throughout the body.
That muscle-knot in your neckyou guessed ittrigger point.
The goal of trigger point therapy is to eliminate the trigger points.
Sounds fairly straightforward, right?
But heres the tricky part:
Trigger points, in most cases, actually cause pain in a different part of your body.
For example, you may have a headache or neck pain that is actually being caused by a trigger point that is located on your back.
Trigger point therapy is very effective Unfortunately, though, its not very relaxing.
When doing trigger point therapy, the therapist will apply specific indirect pressure onto the trigger point with their thumb or a tool until the knot relaxes.
Trigger point therapy is particularly good for neck and shoulder pain.
What Is Physical Therapy Like
Physical therapy can take place in a number of locations such as a hospital, a rehabilitation clinic, a doctor’s office, a physical therapists office, or even in your home. The first step is evaluation to see where you need improvement and which parts of your body have been affected by your injury. The next step is creating a treatment plan that includes goals to work towards and a timeline of rehabilitation. The hands-on nature of the therapy will vary based on the severity of your injury.
If you lost feeling or movement in part of your body as a result of your injury, your physical therapist may spend time stretching out your limbs to help improve your range of motion, reduce pain and prevent muscle tightness. Electrical stimulation, heat or cold therapies, and massage may be used to help regain movement and sensation in affected limbs. PT activities also aim to increase motor strength, coordination and balance. This may involve engaging in exercises with or without the use of equipment . Yoga may also be integrated as part of your physical therapy program as it can help improve posture, balance, flexibility, body awareness and control. Teaching you to use assistive or adaptive devices , can help you move around more easily and independently even if you still have problems moving on your own.
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