At Southern Illinois Spine & Joint Center, massage therapy can be used in combination with chiropractic care or on its own to treat musculoskeletal disorders.

Massage therapy is a technique used to manipulate musculature and soft tissues of the human body. Licensed Massage Therapists (LMT) are trained and certified through massage therapy programs over a one year period, in which they study the anatomy and physiology of the human body in addition to their technique.

Stacey Giacomo is the Licensed Massage Therapist on staff at Southern Illinois Spine & Joint Center in Marissa. She is a recent graduate of Kaskaskia College and is excited to join our team and adding another service in addition to chiropractic care for our patients.

Massage Therapy can:

• Alleviate neck and low back pain and improve range of motion.
• Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers.
• Ease medication dependence.
• Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow-the body’s natural defense system.
• Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
• Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
• Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ-the skin.
• Increase joint flexibility.
• Lessen depression and anxiety.
• Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
• Reduce post-surgery adhesions and swelling.
• Reduce spasms and cramping.
• Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
• Release endorphins-amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
• Relieve headache/migraine pain.
• Fewer aches and less stiffness and pain from arthritis.
• Better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow with asthmatic children.
• Reduced pain, itching, and anxiety on burn injury patients.
• High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
• Decreased water retention and cramping in pre-menstrual patients.

Best results are seen with patients that utilize massage therapy in combination with chiropractic care. By doing so, not only allows one to feel better faster, but also allows the massage therapy service to be billed to the patient’s health insurance, where it is little or no cost to them.