Massage Therapy in Burnsville
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.
How it works
What to expect with massage therapy
- Step 1
Thorough intake
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.
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
- Shoulder pain and arm pain from postural tension, overuse, or injury
- Tension headaches and migraines rooted in sub-occipital and trapezius tightness
- Work injuries where muscle guarding slows recovery
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? Visit our new patients page to learn what to expect, or contact us to book your first appointment.
What it helps
Conditions we treat with massage therapy
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.
Explore more
Related services
Patient reviews
What our Burnsville patients say
“I started coming to Eagle Trace after a car accident because I was having a lot of back and neck pain. Dr. Jeff has been great to work with and has helped me feel much better over time. They offer many treatments, including spinal decompression, rehabilitation exercises, back roller machines, chiropractic adjustments, and massage therapy. The entire team is friendly, caring, and always takes the time to make sure you are comfortable. What I appreciate most is that I never feel rushed during my appointments. They truly listen and focus on helping you recover. I have always felt well taken care of here. I highly recommend Eagle Trace to anyone looking for quality care for back, neck, or injury-related pain.”
“I walked in today and was treated fantastic by the entire staff. Dr. Jeff, seemed to genuinely care for my needs. He was able to adjust some stubborn areas that have been difficult for other Chiropractors. I left feeling so much better! I highly suggest and recommend this place. I will continue to seek care here! Thank you, Lance P.s They have an amazing Mike Tyson boxing glove up on the wall. Punch🥊”
“I had a deep tissue massage with Carol and it was exceptional. I had tightness, stiffness in specific areas and could not stand upright. After her 1hr session I could quickly, comfortably stand upright. I felt better but sore, need a day of recovery being an older gentleman. She very is professional. All of this through a Groupon I purchased. No downsizing in services because of the Groupon like another place ahem-Massage MN. 1 session and she got to the root cause. I definitely will book her services again and the location is not bad. 5 Stars for Carol. UPDATE: 6/3/26 I went in to see Dr. Jeff for Chiropractic Adjustments under my Groupon and I can confidently say Dr Jeff is an exceptional Doctor. He is one of the rare Physicians that has a deep passion for his profession. He utilizes new chiropractic techniques/technologies and is educated on the one that are bad for you. I came in with lower back, calf leg, tight glutes pain and his 1st adjustment made a difference that I can now as I typing this can feel. I am looking forward to his treatments in the future. From my recent past experience with a Groupon Chiropractor-HealthSource Edina I was treated substandard by comparison to Eagle Trace. Many businesses that decide to use Groupon as a way to get clients/customers in truth do not want to do so and it shows by the way they provide substandard service as I received through HealthSource. Eagle Trace Spine and Sport treats his clients/customers with respect, appreciation, enthusiasm, attention to detail and above all the massage and chiropractic services are EXCEPTIONAL. If you are seeking highly educated Chiropractic Services and immediately effective Massage Therapy Services I recommend Eagle Trace Spine and Sport-Burnsville, MN.”