Deep tissue massage is a massage technique primarily used to treat musculoskeletal problems. This includes strains and sports injuries.
Deep tissue massage involves delivering sufficient pressure using slow, deep strokes to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues.
It also helps break down scar tissue that develops as a result of injury and reduces muscle and tissue tension. It may also aid in faster healing by improving blood circulation and reducing inflammation.
This at-home massage technique is great for paying attention to some painful and stiff hot spots in your body. Your home massage therapist works with slow, deliberate movements that put pressure on layers of muscle, tendons, or other tissue deep under your skin.
It’s less rhythmic than other types of massage, but deep tissue massage can be therapeutic by decreasing chronic patterns of tension and helping with muscle injuries, such as a sprained back.
Deep Tissue Massage Techniques
Basically, these massage techniques are used to break up scar tissue and physically break up knots or muscle adhesions. They include stiff tissues that can decrease circulation and create pain, decreased range of motion, and inflammation.
In deep tissue massage, some strokes may be identical to those used in Swedish massage therapy, but this at-home massage is not a stronger version of a Swedish massage. Lighter pressure is usually applied to warm up at the start of a deep tissue massage and prepare the muscles.
Common techniques include:
1. Active release method
This technique is also called ART. It combines treatment and examination. The massage therapist must first check your situation and your medical history before starting. They will use their hands to see the development of your tendons, muscles, and ligaments.
They will also check your muscle composition and see how your nerves are working during the exam. The massage therapist then works with abnormal tissue using coordinated pressure.
2. Muscle Energy Technique
This deep tissue massage technique helps stretch the muscles. It is used by massage therapists who treat athletes and patients with specific injuries during physiotherapy.
This unique technique is considered useful for stretching postural muscles that tend to shorten. The massage therapist pulls against resistance using isometric compression for progressive constriction. This method, however, is not good for the physical muscles, but it can help strengthen and relax muscle cramps.
3. Trigger point method
This method is ideal for dealing with pain at its source. The massage therapist applies pressure in cycles and allows you to breathe deeply in a specific way.
The goal is to find the specific location with discomfort, measure the amount and manage it.
What happens during the massage?
Before your home massage session, your massage therapist will want to know your specific areas. It can affect your whole body or just one area.
During your home massage session, you are asked to lie on your back or stomach, under a sheet. Your massage therapist warms your muscles with a lighter touch. They start massaging your problem areas once you are warmed up. A massage therapist uses deep kneading and stroking with varying amounts of intense pressure.
Does deep tissue massage hurt?
You may feel some discomfort or even some pain as the massage therapist takes care of the areas where they have adhesions or scar tissue at certain times during the massage.
Pain is not a sign that the massage is working. In fact, your body may feel pain in response to the massage, making it difficult for the therapist to reach deeper muscles.
You should let the massage therapist know if you feel any pain. The therapist may modify the method or further prepare the tissues if the superficial muscles are tense.
The side effects
The benefits of deep tissue massage are best experienced if you have a regular course of massage sessions over a period of time.
However, sometimes you only need this one-time massage to deal with the troublesome knobby shoulder. You can expect to feel some tenderness in the area that was worked after a deep tissue massage. But you shouldn’t be inactive pain and if you do, you should discuss it with your massage therapist.
The biggest side effects of a deep tissue massage are thirst and drowsiness. That’s why we recommend drinking water, taking a nap, or going to bed soon after the massage session.
It is normal to feel a headache after a deep tissue massage or even to feel mildly nauseous. It has to do with toxins moving through your body. You need to drink plenty of water, relax, and both of these effects will diminish quickly.
A few precautions
- It is important that you talk to your doctor before having a deep tissue massage if you are at risk of blood clots.
- If you have undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy or another health condition, it is advisable to consult your doctor before starting a massage session. Likewise, people with osteoporosis should avoid the deeper pressure of this type of massage.
- Deep tissue massage should not be performed directly over inflamed or infected skin, rashes, open wounds, tumors, abdominal hernias or areas of recent fractures.
- It’s important to check with your healthcare professional first to find out which type they recommend for you if you have a pre-existing condition. For example, people with certain conditions, such as spondyloarthritis, may not be able to handle the pain of a deep tissue massage.
