Why is Johnny Cochrane, licensed massage therapist, writing a blog post about chiropractors in Kalispell, Mt.? Well, a few reasons, haha! I’d like to address some of the myths about them, and also share my own personal experience from being treated by various chiropractors in the Flathead Valley.
I had a desk job for 13 years prior to becoming a full-time Kalispell massage therapist. A desk job is murder on your body, and I explored chiropractic, and massage therapy, to help relieve the discomfort I was experiencing. In 2008, it was so bad I could barely sit through a movie! I tried 4 different Kalispell chiropractors, and the 5th one, in Whitefish, was who finally got the job done. The difference? A “drop table”, a table that somewhat collapses under the patient after the chiro applies a quick thrust. My friends had all told me to check out this chiropractor in Whitefish, Mt., but I had every excuse in the book for not going: not on my insurance preferred provider list, too far to drive, etc.
There are A LOT of chiropractors in the Flathead Valley, and most of them are really good, but it can take going to a few before you find a good vibe, a good fit, someone who GETS you. Don’t be discouraged. My wife was quite a chiro skeptic at one time, but finding a female chiropractor kind of set her at ease, and she’s now a believer. If you too are a skeptic, and don’t like the idea of someone popping your back, call around and find a chiropractor in Kalispell who utilizes the ACTIVATOR. It’s lil’ hand-held gizmo that applies a quick, brief thrust to adjust bones, rather than the chiro using their hands. I use a similar tool in my Kalispell massage therapy practice, but mine is just a $150 tool, compared to the chiros $850 instrument, and mine is calibrated just to work on trigger points in muscles.
It’s often asked “why does the chiropractor in Kalispell want me to come back 3 times a week for 2 months?” The answer is two-fold: first, not all our local chiropractors subscribe to this type of rebooking. But the injury, or reason for working with a chiro often dictates how often treatment is needed. If you’ve been lop-sided for a few years, it’s unrealistic to think a 30 minute session with a Flathead Valley chiropractor will be all you need to get straightened out. Muscles have memory. The chiro will put you back into alignment, but your body just kinda wants to slide back into the position it’s been in all those years. Repeat appointments, a couple times a week, may help train the body to stay straight. But, something is always better than nothing. If you can only afford to be treated every couple weeks, or just want to come in when your body is “talking to you”, something is better than nothing.
Massage therapy and chiropractic work very well together! There are a few chiropractors in the Flathead Valley who actually do have massage therapy available on-site. I’m often asked if it’s better to get massage before, or after a chiropractic adjustment, and I believe BEFORE is better. Going to the chiropractor is kinda like going to the dentist: not the funnest thing you’re going to do this week, haha! So, if you can get some massage before the chiro, you’re muscles won’t be as tight, you’ll be more relaxed, and the chiro’s work may hold longer.
If you’d like to explore massage therapy, please click the link HERE for my office pricing, including kinesio taping. You can also see what my work looks like before making an appointment, subscribe to my Youtube channel!
(My new clients must book their first session online, click HERE for my website and text 406-871-9885 with questions.)
