Deep tissue massage - a more in depth look.

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Superficial people are considered those who never glimpse past the surface. My college professors always urged us to dig deeper. In life you have to look deeper to find answers, meaning, motivations and depending on what you find can sometimes facilitate a healing.

 

The goal of a deep tissue massage is to relieve pain and support the healing process instead of a massage for the sole purpose of relaxation. Deep tissue massage is most needed by those living with chronic pain like fibromyalgia, recovering from an injury, or those with active lifestyles that puts a strain on their bodies (athletes, dirt bike riders, snow boarders, rock climbers, etc.).

 

Consumer Reports says "Twenty-eight percent of readers who used deep-tissue massage, usually for back or neck pain, said their doctors had recommended it." They found it very effective in fact they felt "prescription medication rated about the same as deep-tissue massage". People often notice improved range of motion immediately after a deep tissue massage. Which leads me to wonder did they actually receive a deep tissue massage or just stronger pressure?

 

In the same article by Consumer Reports, "Deep-tissue massage... involves pressure with knees, elbows, thumbs, fingers, and knuckles." This is not exactly true, yes during deep tissue massage I will use my elbows thumbs fingers knuckles (rarely my knees - that's more of a shiatsu thing for me). But deep tissue massage is more than that. The book Deep Tissue Massage, Revised Edition: A Visual Guide to Techniques describes deep tissue massage techniques as an "emphasis on client positioning options to stretch muscles rather than just kneading tissues."

 

There is a difference in massage therapy between deep tissue massage and deep pressure. During massage sessions I will ask my massage clients on the table "how’s the pressure". I will get answers from it's too much to you can push harder. I will comply and adjust accordingly. When the massage client would like more pressure and I apply greater force this is not deep tissue massage.

 

What is a deep tissue massage? A deep tissue massage session begins with Swedish strokes. This allows the tissues to warm up and prepare them for deeper work. During the massage session, when I find a knot or tightly contracted muscle I will pause on that spot. These areas are usually tender but respond well to static compression meaning halt movement and slowly apply pressure.

 

Deep tissue massage hurts, right? Massage therapy can be uncomfortable, I am after all touching areas of contracted muscle which doesn’t feel like a walk in the park, but should never be painful. Pain is your body’s way of telling you to stop before injury occurs. Sucking it up or powering through that part of the massage isn't beneficial and can be damaging. On a pain scale of 1-10 your massage session should never go above a 6. If at any time the massage feels painful please tell me so I can back off.