Therapeutic massage in Burnsville relaxes tight muscles, improves circulation, and complements chiropractic care for neck pain, whiplash, and tension headaches.
Eagle Trace Spine & Sport
Massage Therapy in Burnsville
When muscles stay tight and guarded, even a perfect chiropractic adjustment can lose its hold within hours. Therapeutic massage at Eagle Trace Spine & Sport releases that underlying tension — calming the nervous system, improving circulation, and giving your adjustments the relaxed tissue they need to hold longer. Dr. Jeff Plaster's team pairs licensed massage therapy with chiropractic care so Burnsville patients see faster relief and results that actually stick.
We discuss your symptoms, injury history, and goals before your session so your massage therapist knows exactly which muscles to target and how deep to go.
Step 2
Targeted soft-tissue work
Your therapist applies the right techniques — Swedish, deep tissue, trigger-point release, or a blend — to break up adhesions, ease spasms, and restore healthy circulation to the affected area.
Step 3
Integrated with your care plan
Massage is timed around your adjustments so the two therapies amplify each other — relaxed tissue responds better to manipulation, and the adjustment reinforces what the massage just freed up.
Claim Your $65 New Patient Massage Special
Tell us a bit about your situation and our office will reach out to get you scheduled — usually the same business day. Prefer to talk to a person? Call or text (952) 808-2922.
Why patients choose it
Benefits of massage therapy
Reduces muscle tension so chiropractic adjustments hold longer
Improves circulation to speed tissue healing
Calms the nervous system and lowers overall pain sensitivity
Relieves tension headaches and neck stiffness
Eases work-injury and whiplash recovery
Supports better sleep and stress relief
The basics
About massage therapy
Muscles and joints don't work in isolation — a restricted spinal joint triggers surrounding muscles to tighten defensively, and those tight muscles in turn keep pulling the joint back out of alignment. It's a feedback loop that slows recovery and keeps pain cycling back. Therapeutic massage interrupts that loop by directly releasing the soft tissue, so the adjustment has a better chance of holding.
The benefits reach further than pain relief. Improved circulation brings fresh oxygen and nutrients to injured tissue while flushing out the metabolic waste that makes muscles ache. A calmer nervous system lowers overall tension, improves sleep, and helps the body shift from "fight-or-flight" into a healing state. For Burnsville and the south metro patients dealing with neck pain, whiplash, work injuries, or tension headaches, massage is often the missing piece that makes the rest of care finally click.
What is therapeutic massage?
Therapeutic massage is a clinically directed form of soft-tissue therapy — distinct from a spa massage in that it targets specific muscles and movement patterns connected to your pain, injury, or recovery goals. Your therapist draws on Swedish, deep-tissue, and trigger-point techniques to release muscle spasms, break up fibrous adhesions, and restore healthy blood flow to overworked or injured tissue.
At Eagle Trace Spine & Sport, massage is integrated with your chiropractic care plan from the start. That means your therapist and Dr. Jeff Plaster are working toward the same goal — not two separate professionals doing their own thing.
What to expect
Your first massage session starts with a brief intake where your therapist reviews your symptoms, history, and any areas Dr. Plaster flagged during your adjustment exam. That information guides every decision — how much pressure, which techniques, and how long to spend on each area.
During the session you’ll lie comfortably on a padded table. Your therapist works through the targeted areas with a combination of long, gliding strokes to warm the tissue and deeper cross-fiber work to release tight bands and trigger points. Communication is always open — if the pressure is too much or not enough, say so.
Most sessions run 30–60 minutes. Many patients feel noticeably looser within the first session; the cumulative benefit builds as the tissue has time to reorganize and as your adjustments reinforce the new, relaxed position.
Who it helps
Therapeutic massage is a strong fit for patients dealing with:
Neck pain and whiplash — tight cervical and upper-thoracic muscles are a primary driver of both
If you have chronic tightness, poor posture, or simply feel like your adjustments aren’t holding as long as they should, adding massage to your plan is often the turning point.
Why choose Eagle Trace Spine & Sport
Dr. Jeff Plaster and the Eagle Trace Spine & Sport team in Burnsville take an integrated approach — your massage therapist works from the same care plan as your chiropractor, so every session moves you forward rather than treating your symptoms in isolation. We’ve helped patients from Burnsville, Savage, Apple Valley, Lakeville, and Eagan recover faster from injuries, beat chronic tension, and keep pain from coming back.
Ready to see what integrated massage and chiropractic care can do for you? Use the request form on this page and our office will reach out to get you scheduled, or contact us with any questions.
Still have questions? Contact us — we're happy to help.
Should I get a massage before or after my adjustment?+
Either works. Many patients prefer massage first to relax tight muscles so the adjustment holds longer. We'll tailor it to you.
What is therapeutic massage?+
Therapeutic massage is the targeted use of soft-tissue techniques — Swedish strokes, deep-tissue pressure, trigger-point release — to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and calm the nervous system. Unlike a spa massage focused on relaxation, therapeutic massage is directed at specific areas tied to your pain or injury.
Does therapeutic massage hurt?+
It shouldn't. Some deep-tissue work can feel intense on very tight muscles, but it should never be sharp or unbearable. Tell your therapist at any point and they'll adjust the pressure. Most patients leave sessions feeling noticeably looser and lighter.
How many massage sessions will I need?+
It depends on your condition. Acute neck pain or whiplash may resolve in 4–8 sessions combined with adjustments. Chronic tension patterns built up over years can take longer. After your exam Dr. Plaster will include massage recommendations in your care plan so you know what to expect.
Is therapeutic massage safe?+
Yes — for the vast majority of patients it is safe and well tolerated. We screen for contraindications (blood clots, active fractures, certain skin conditions) during your intake. If there's any reason to modify or skip massage, your therapist will let you know before the session begins.
Will my insurance cover massage therapy?+
Some plans cover massage when it is prescribed as part of an active injury or chiropractic care plan. We'll verify your benefits before your first visit and explain any out-of-pocket cost up front so there are no surprises.
Can massage help tension headaches?+
Yes. Tension headaches are often driven by tight sub-occipital and upper-trapezius muscles at the base of the skull. Releasing that tissue — combined with chiropractic care for the cervical spine — is one of the most effective ways to reduce headache frequency and intensity.
How does massage complement chiropractic adjustments?+
An adjustment corrects joint alignment and motion; massage releases the soft tissue pulling the joint back out. Together they break the muscle-joint tension loop that keeps pain cycling. Many patients find their adjustments hold noticeably longer when massage is included in their care plan.
What is the difference between therapeutic massage and a spa massage?+
A spa massage is focused primarily on relaxation. Therapeutic massage is clinically directed — your therapist works from your intake history and care plan, targeting specific muscles and movement patterns tied to your pain, injury, or recovery goals.
Do you offer massage for work injuries?+
Yes. Therapeutic massage is an important part of work-injury recovery for patients from Burnsville, Savage, Apple Valley, and Lakeville. We coordinate with workers' compensation when applicable and document your progress throughout care.
“After being in a car accident in December, I received a mailer from Dr. Plaster at Eagle Trace Chiropractic. I’d never sought chiropractic care after an accident before, but something told me to schedule an evaluation—and I’m so glad I did.
One of the things that immediately stood out was how thorough the initial appointment was. They took X-rays, and Dr. Plaster reviewed them with me right then and there. He explained exactly what he was seeing, where the problem areas were, and how they were contributing to the pain I had been living with—all in a way that was easy to understand without ever feeling overwhelming. His knowledge is incredibly impressive, but what really sets him apart is his ability to connect with people. You can tell he genuinely cares about every patient, and the fact that he’s learned multiple languages to better serve his community speaks volumes about the kind of person he is.
Since starting care at Eagle Trace, my body has done a complete 180. The chronic pain and tension in my neck and shoulders have improved more than I ever thought possible. I move better, I hurt less, and I honestly feel like I have a much better quality of life. It’s opened a door I didn’t even know existed.
My treatment plan was thoughtfully designed around my specific injuries and included adjustments, the rolling table, neck and lower back decompression, massage therapy, and SoftWave therapy. Every part of my care felt intentional, and every member of the team played an important role in my recovery.
The massage therapists are phenomenal, and the front desk staff are truly the heart of the office. They’re the same wonderful people who help with decompression treatments, and they’re always kind, welcoming, attentive, and encouraging. Every visit feels personal because they genuinely care about how you’re doing. They also went above and beyond to help me navigate my auto insurance claim, making sure I understood my coverage and handling so much of the process. They even offered to connect me with an attorney if I ran into issues with insurance. Knowing they were advocating for me took so much stress off my shoulders. They also have very reasonable self-pay rates, making exceptional care accessible.
I walked into Eagle Trace unsure whether chiropractic care would really make a difference for me. Today, I’m a firm believer because of the life-changing care I’ve received from Dr. Plaster and his incredible team. If you’ve been in a car accident—or you’re simply living with chronic pain—I cannot recommend Eagle Trace Chiropractic highly enough.”
ABAnna BatzVerified review · Google”
“Very nice facilities, the girls in front excellent, they really are. Dr Jeff Plaster, great guy, polite, and very professional and very thorough, he will explain every thing to you. then he will crack your back and neck , he has a good touch. and you will start to feel good. then you go to the rollers. Love them . the rollers really complete the experience. love them. All in all , its a good experience to get your adjustment for the back . I would say
it's a 5 star experience. Thank you All.”
GCGregory ClearyVerified review · Google”
“It was a wonderful experience! Highly recommend, I will definitely be back…”
