“The invisible ceiling”

For a muscle to behave like a muscle, the corresponding joint that’s attached to that (muscle) must be working well. In other words, if the joint that is underlying any particular muscle in the body is not functioning well, the muscle associated won’t function well either. This is moderated neurologically by the brain distally, and locally by the intrinsic neuromuscular makeup of the muscle joint combination at hand.

A patient once asked me a great question: “Dr. Sirota, should I get a massage before or after a Chiropractic adjustment?” My answer was this: Well, in the end, it depends upon what you like better. Scientifically and medically, it’s best to get the Chiropractic spine adjustment first. Once the Chiropractor “Clears” the neurological block to the muscle you plan on having massaged, the outcome will be so much better for you and the massage therapist. He/she won’t have to work that hard because the “invisible ceiling” of an underlying tension caused by abnormal joint dysfunction won’t be in the way of the therapist. Bottom line, any muscle tension that the massage therapist feels MUST only then, be from the muscle itself, not from the circuitry (nerve supply) to that muscle. Make sense?

We thought so!