Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy in Holland, MI — McAlpine Chiropractic

Therapeutic Massage That Works With Your Body to Relieve Pain and Restore Movement

Tight shoulders that won’t let go. A lower back that stiffens up every afternoon. Tension headaches that build slowly and settle in behind your eyes. When your muscles are locked up, everything feels harder — sleeping, working, moving through your day without wincing.

Massage therapy at McAlpine Chiropractic is not a luxury spa treatment. It is a clinical, hands-on therapy designed to release the muscle tension, adhesions, and trigger points that contribute to chronic pain. When your soft tissue is healthy and relaxed, your body moves the way it was designed to — and treatments like chiropractic adjustments hold longer and work better.

Our licensed massage therapist, Robert Silva, LMT, brings focused therapeutic expertise to every session. Whether you are managing chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or looking for relief from the physical stress of daily life, massage therapy at McAlpine Chiropractic is built around what your body actually needs.

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Why Massage Therapy Matters for Your Health

Massage therapy is one of the oldest and most well-studied forms of hands-on healing. It reduces muscle tension, improves circulation, lowers stress hormones, and promotes the body’s natural recovery process. But the benefits go deeper than relaxation.

Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (2011) found that massage therapy was more effective than usual medical care for chronic low back pain at 10 weeks — with benefits lasting up to 6 months. A systematic review in Pain Medicine (2016) confirmed that massage therapy produces clinically meaningful reductions in pain and anxiety for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

At McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI, we use massage therapy as a key part of a broader treatment approach. When combined with chiropractic care, laser therapy, and spinal decompression, massage addresses the soft tissue component of pain — the muscles, fascia, and connective tissue that surround and support your spine and joints.

The result is faster recovery, longer-lasting relief, and a body that functions better overall.

Our Massage Therapy Techniques

Robert Silva, LMT, is trained in multiple therapeutic massage techniques. During your session, he will select and combine the approaches that best match your condition, your goals, and your comfort level.

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is the foundation of therapeutic bodywork. It uses long, flowing strokes, gentle kneading, and rhythmic tapping to improve blood circulation, ease surface-level muscle tension, and calm the nervous system. Swedish massage is an excellent choice if you are new to massage therapy, managing general stress, or looking for whole-body relaxation that also supports healing.

This technique is particularly helpful for patients who carry tension throughout their body — not in one specific spot, but everywhere. It encourages your muscles to release, your breathing to slow down, and your nervous system to shift out of fight-or-flight mode.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue where chronic tension, scar tissue, and adhesions build up over time. Using slow, firm pressure and focused strokes, Robert works through layers of muscle fiber to break up knots and restore healthy tissue movement.

Deep tissue massage is especially effective for:

• Chronic lower back pain that persists despite stretching
• Neck and shoulder stiffness from desk work or repetitive motion
• Post-injury muscle tightness and restricted range of motion
• Sports-related muscle strain and overuse injuries

A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2010) found that deep tissue massage significantly reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels — confirming its effects on both the muscular and nervous systems.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points are tight, hyper-irritable spots within a muscle that refer pain to other areas of the body. A trigger point in your upper trapezius, for example, can send pain up the side of your neck and into your temple — mimicking a tension headache.

During trigger point therapy, Robert applies sustained, focused pressure directly to these knotted areas. This interrupts the pain signal, releases the contracted muscle fibers, and restores normal blood flow to the area. Many patients feel immediate relief after a trigger point is released — and the referred pain pattern often disappears entirely.

Trigger point therapy is highly effective for patients who have “that one spot” that never seems to let go, or who experience pain in one area that seems to originate from somewhere else.

Myofascial Release

Fascia is the thin, web-like connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, bone, and organ in your body. When fascia becomes tight, dehydrated, or restricted — from injury, surgery, poor posture, or chronic tension — it can pull on surrounding structures and create pain that feels deep, diffuse, and difficult to pin down.

Myofascial release uses gentle, sustained pressure applied across broad areas of tissue. Rather than targeting a single knot, Robert stretches and softens the fascial web to restore normal tissue mobility. This technique is especially valuable for patients with:

• Widespread, hard-to-locate pain
• Restricted range of motion that stretching alone does not improve
• Post-surgical tissue tightness
• Chronic postural patterns (forward head, rounded shoulders)

Myofascial release works particularly well in combination with chiropractic adjustments. When the fascia surrounding a misaligned joint is released first, the adjustment is easier to perform, more comfortable for the patient, and more likely to hold.

How Massage Therapy Complements Chiropractic Care

One of the most common questions we hear at McAlpine Chiropractic is: “Should I get a massage before or after my adjustment?” The answer is that both work beautifully together — and the combination is more effective than either treatment alone.

Here is why. When your muscles are chronically tight, they pull on the joints and vertebrae they attach to. A chiropractic adjustment can restore proper alignment, but if the surrounding muscles immediately pull the joint back out of position, the correction does not last as long as it should.

Massage therapy relaxes those muscles first. It releases the tension, softens the tissue, and improves circulation in the area. When the adjustment follows, it moves more easily, holds more reliably, and your body has a better chance of maintaining the correction between visits.

This is not speculation. A study in Manual Therapy (2014) found that patients receiving combined chiropractic and massage therapy reported significantly greater pain reduction and functional improvement than those receiving either treatment individually.

At McAlpine Chiropractic, we coordinate your massage therapy and chiropractic visits to maximize this effect. Robert Silva, LMT, works closely with our chiropractic team to ensure your treatment plan is integrated and consistent.

Conditions We Treat With Massage Therapy

Massage therapy at McAlpine Chiropractic is effective for a wide range of conditions. If you are dealing with any of the following, therapeutic massage may be an important part of your recovery:

• Back pain — chronic low back pain, muscle spasm, disc-related guarding
• Neck pain and stiffness — cervical tension, whiplash recovery, tech neck
• Headaches and migraines — tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, stress-related migraines
• Sports injuries — muscle strains, overuse injuries, post-competition recovery
• Sciatica — piriformis syndrome, gluteal tension contributing to sciatic nerve irritation
• Shoulder pain — rotator cuff tension, frozen shoulder, postural imbalance
• Stress and anxiety — chronic muscle guarding, poor sleep, nervous system dysregulation
• Post-surgical recovery — tissue mobilization after orthopedic procedures (with physician clearance)

Massage therapy also works well alongside other healthcare treatments. Many of our patients combine massage with physical therapy, exercise programs, or medical care from their primary physician. Therapeutic massage supports and enhances the results of other treatments — it never replaces them.

What to Expect at Your First Massage Therapy Session

If you have never had a therapeutic massage, or if it has been a while, here is what your first visit at McAlpine Chiropractic looks like.

Before your session. You will complete a brief health intake form that covers your medical history, current symptoms, areas of concern, and any conditions Robert should know about. This helps him design a session that is safe, effective, and focused on your specific needs.

At the start of your session. Robert will spend a few minutes talking with you about where your pain is, how long you have had it, and what your goals are — whether that is relief from a specific injury, reduction of chronic tension, or general relaxation and recovery. You will discuss pressure preferences and any areas you would like him to focus on or avoid.

During the session. You will lie on a comfortable treatment table in a quiet, private room. Robert uses professional draping at all times — only the area being worked on is uncovered. Sessions typically last 30, 60, or 90 minutes depending on your needs. Robert adjusts his techniques throughout the session based on how your tissue responds.

After your session. Robert may recommend stretches, hydration, or follow-up frequency. If you are also receiving chiropractic care at McAlpine, he will coordinate with your chiropractor to ensure your treatment plans work together.

Most patients feel noticeably more relaxed and mobile after their first session. Some patients with chronic tension may experience mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours as their muscles release stored tension — this is normal and resolves quickly.

Meet Your Massage Therapist: Robert Silva, LMT

Robert Silva is a licensed massage therapist serving patients at McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI. Robert is trained in multiple therapeutic techniques including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, and myofascial release. He brings a focused, patient-centered approach to every session — listening carefully to your concerns and adapting his treatment in real time based on what your body needs.

Robert works as part of the McAlpine Chiropractic clinical team, coordinating with our chiropractors to ensure your massage therapy supports your overall treatment plan. Whether you are managing a chronic condition, recovering from an injury, or simply carrying more tension than your body can handle, Robert provides the skilled, therapeutic care you need.

Frequently Asked Questions About Massage Therapy

How often should I get a massage?

It depends on your condition and goals. Patients managing chronic pain or recovering from an injury typically benefit from weekly or biweekly sessions initially, tapering to monthly maintenance once symptoms improve. Robert will recommend a frequency based on your response to treatment.

Is massage therapy covered by insurance?

Many insurance plans cover massage therapy when it is prescribed as part of a treatment plan for a medical condition. Our front desk team can help verify your coverage. Auto injury cases covered under PIP insurance typically include massage therapy as part of the treatment plan.

What is the difference between a spa massage and therapeutic massage?

A spa massage focuses primarily on relaxation and stress relief. Therapeutic massage at McAlpine Chiropractic is clinical — it targets specific muscles, adhesions, and pain patterns with the goal of improving function and reducing pain. Robert uses detailed assessments and focused techniques to address the source of your symptoms, not just provide temporary comfort.

Does deep tissue massage hurt?

Deep tissue work involves firm pressure and may produce some discomfort in areas of chronic tension or adhesion. However, effective deep tissue massage should never be painful beyond what you can tolerate. Robert communicates with you throughout the session and adjusts pressure based on your feedback. The goal is therapeutic — not punishing.

Can I get a massage if I have a herniated disc?

In most cases, yes. Massage therapy can help relieve the muscle spasm and guarding that develops around a herniated disc, making you more comfortable and improving your response to other treatments like spinal decompression and chiropractic adjustments. Robert will modify his technique based on your specific condition.

Should I get a massage before or after a chiropractic adjustment?

Both approaches have benefits. Massage before an adjustment relaxes tight muscles so the adjustment moves more easily and holds longer. Massage after an adjustment helps the surrounding tissue adapt to the new alignment. At McAlpine Chiropractic, we can schedule both in the same visit for maximum benefit.

How long is a typical massage therapy session?

Sessions are available in 30-minute, 60-minute, and 90-minute lengths. For most therapeutic goals, a 60-minute session provides enough time to address primary areas of concern thoroughly. Patients with full-body tension or multiple problem areas may benefit from a 90-minute session.

Schedule Your Massage Therapy Appointment

Your muscles are not going to release themselves. If you are carrying tension that stretching, foam rolling, and willpower have not been able to fix — therapeutic massage therapy at McAlpine Chiropractic can help.

Robert Silva, LMT, is ready to work with you. Whether you are dealing with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or simply ready to feel better in your own body — your first step is a phone call or a click.

Call 616-392-7031 to schedule your appointment.

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McAlpine Chiropractic | Holland, MI

Massage therapy, chiropractic care, laser therapy, and spinal decompression — working together for lasting relief.