Get rid of tight muscles, aches, and pain with deep tissue massage techniques. Deep tissue massage has some benefits if you are recovering from an injury or if you are a sportsperson with an increased demand on your body.
Massages have been used for thousands of years around the globe to decrease psychological and physical stress. Nowadays, research is consistently being done whether used alone or in combination with other treatments, tissue therapy is a productive way to assist in treating common issues such as chronic lower back pain, shoulder tension, stress, anxiety, and arthritis.
The fundamental objective of deep muscle massage is to reduce discomfort and pain while improving the body’s ability to repair itself. The deep tissue is relaxing, and it assists in lengthening and releasing the muscles that usually get stuck and feel tense in tight holding patterns.
What is deep tissue massage?
It is a technique principally used for treating musculoskeletal problems, such as sports injuries and strains. It involves targeted pressure using deep and slow strokes to target the inner layers of connective tissues and muscles.
DTM assists in breaking up the scar tissues that result in an injury and decreasing the tension in the tissue and muscle. It can maintain fast healing through increased blood flow and reduced inflammation.
Deep tissue includes manipulating the body’s deep tissue layers, including the supportive tissues that make up the joints, muscles, and fascia.
Unlike other popular massage techniques, such as therapeutic massage or Swedish massage, which are light in pressure and involve moving the body into a specific place, the DTM is firm and slow.
The person getting the deep tissue massage lies on the back or stomach in one state while a professional massage therapist applies specific pressure to specific body parts.
Massage is helpful because it helps relieve muscle tension and stimulate the flow of blood. At the same time, it releases oxytocin and serotonin, the happy hormones, and lowers psychological stress.
Most deep muscle massages focus on the major group of muscles, such as the lower back or neck, in addition to the tendons and joints that are vulnerable to injuries or strains. Some specific body parts that tense up when you are under stress, such as the hips, neck, and shoulders, can benefit the most from this kind of deep manipulation.
Numerous individuals regard DTM as a type of sports massage that includes physical therapy, principally for the neuromusculoskeletal systems, to prevent injuries, improve joint mobilization and muscle recovery, and treat disability and pain.
Several manipulative approaches to treating pain and other health issues have been used for more than 3,000 years, dating back to Chinese and Ancient Egyptian civilizations. Pressure therapy promoted better liver function, detoxed the body, and improved energy or life force, which now can be regarded as lymphatic system activation.
The professional considers that the first to use deep and firm pressure for treating chronic pain were the ancient Egyptians. In the middle of the 19th century, deep tissue therapy began to gain attention in the West, starting in Canada and making its way around the United Kingdom.
What are deep tissue massage techniques?
Are you aware of the types and techniques involved in deep tissue massage?
If you have ever had a bodywork experience done in a Swedish fashion, including the long strokes moved along the muscle lines, deep tissue is something different. The deep tissue technique is cross-grains, working against the muscles to relieve pains or aches despite moving with them. In comparison with standard relaxation therapy, it can be more painful.
Hence, the pressure in the deep tissue is great if you have an idea. It offers multiple benefits that this massage offers. Let us see different aspects in detail.
The DTM is longer and slow-paced as compared to the other massages, almost 1.5 hours long, which provides bodily tissues sufficient time for warm-up and relaxing. The therapist who is professional in several techniques of deep tissue often provides the client with multiple services:
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They give you different tips for improving posture, which assists in lowering the pain and chronic tension.
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They are expert in the treatment of some specific areas that were injured previously or are extra tense.
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They have additional information related to stress and anxiety present in the body and improved relaxation.
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They have basic knowledge of helpful stretches or exercises that you can do at home during a massage session.
What are the benefits of deep tissue massage?
Deep tissue therapy has multiple psychological and physical benefits. Compared to other massage techniques that focus on leisure, deep tissue therapy assists in improving stiffness and treating muscle pain. It also aids in mental unwinding.
A study conducted in 2014, including 59 individuals, showed that deep tissue massage assisted in decreasing the pain in individuals having chronic low back pain. There were multiple effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs associated with it, for instance Advil (Ibuprofen)
People have reported that deep tissue massage assists with fibromyalgia, sports injuries, high blood pressure, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and sciatica.
Treats The Chronic Back Pain
The research compared the effectiveness of deep tissue massage (DTM) and therapeutic massage, two different massages for the treatment of chronic back pain. It found that over a period of ten days, the DTM led to an increased improvement in the pain compared with the therapeutic treatment.
Assists in Lowering High Blood Pressure
Research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that the DTM had sound effects on mean, diastolic, and systolic arterial blood pressure readings in people with symptoms of high blood pressure and pain.
Decreases Muscle Tension, Anxiety, and Stress
Muscle tension and chronic stress cause inflammation, which results in worsening general health, prolonging recovery time, and reducing cardiovascular and immune function problems, such as increased blood pressure.
Several Studies Have Indicated
Massage therapy can help lower cortisol levels and boost oxytocin production, which produces soothing effects and relaxes the body. Oxytocin is the first hormone to increase motivation for cooperative behaviours and sustain social bonds in human beings. It is renowned as the cuddle hormone, and it is released during social bonding, birth, from touch, and during hugs.
Breaks Up Scar Tissue
Deep tissue is used after injuries to assist in breaking up the newly created scar tissues that are demanding recovery, resulting in stiffness. Therapeutic treatments can decrease muscle spasms and inflammation by loosening muscles and stimulating blood flow to permit more oxygen. They can also assist in reducing the nervous system’s automatic stress response.
Improves Athletic Performance and Recovery
Deep tissue massage improves athletic performance and recovery. Sports massage, one of the most productive kinds of tissue massage for athletes, is best for preventing injuries and warming the body.
Can Help With Delivery and Labor Pain
Most pregnant ladies prefer complementary or alternative medications for assisting in the control of labour pain and sustaining a natural process of birthing, such as the Bradley method.
A Study Shows
Chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage therapy are the most recommended alternative therapies during pregnancy. Because these treatments decrease cortisol levels and improve blood flow, expecting women are greatly protected from the probability of premature delivery and excessive fetal activity.
Reduces Symptoms of Arthritis
Massage is commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of different kinds of arthritis, including trouble sleeping, reduced range of movement in joints, anxiety, stiffness, and chronic joint pain. Firm massages are utilized for natural relaxation on a daily basis, and they are performed by the patient or by a professional.
What is the difference between a deep tissue massage and a regular massage?
Here are some of the different types of massage therapy:
SPORTS THERAPY
It is a treatment applicable to athletes who expose their bodies to extreme physical stress to compete in sports. They may have minor injuries, stress-related wounds, or muscle soreness from the buildup of lactic acid. This style of massage is applied vigorously, which aids in quick healing and great response.
SWEDISH
Swedish massage helps to alleviate the relief caused by stress compared to natural treatment for painful situations, so it is done with less intensity rather than sports therapy but for an elongated period per session. The principal techniques in Swedish massage are tapotement, petrissage, friction, and effleurage.
DEEP TISSUE
DTM is more intense than a sports massage. When you apply deep tissue techniques, you try focusing the pressure on a particular body part and fixing the issues in that part. Manual massage is an intense style of massage for both therapist and customer. It is beneficial in treating deep tissue problems that other types of therapy may not reach or may take a lot of time to see results.
REMEDIAL MASSAGE
The remedial technique is considered a therapy. It is similar to sports therapy, and it is not intense, identical to deep tissue massage. The idea behind this treatment is to plan the healing of an already present injury.
THAI MASSAGE
If you feel relaxed, happy, or good while having treatment from a Thai therapist, it is a great sign that the therapist is professional and expert. While undergoing treatment, you are not believed to feel comfortable, numerous individuals are amazed at the deep physicality of the techniques, and it includes a mild amount of excess pressure but the best is to explore good feelings after completing the session.
Thai therapy practitioners can apply deep-tissue massage methods to specific medical and muscle problems. Anyone can be trained as a Thai massage therapist, but it is important to learn the Thai technique well enough to distinguish it as a beneficial therapy.
What is deep tissue massage VS Swedish massage?
Before going for deep tissue therapy, you should compare it with other types of massages to get an idea of what it is. Swedish massage and deep tissue massage are different kinds of therapies. Both involve the same strokes but differ in the amount of pressure and have different uses. Here are some of the major differences between Swedish and deep tissue massage:
Pressure
Swedish massage is a gentle treatment that involves the least tension as compared to the deep tissue. Both kinds of massage involve the use of fingers and palms for manipulating and kneading the tissues, but the forearms and elbows are also used for applying more pressure during DTM.
Intended use
The DTM is used for the treatment of sports-related injuries and chronic pain as well as muscles. When talking about Swedish massage is used for reducing the muscle tension resulting from everyday activities, for instance, sitting anywhere and promoting relaxation.
Areas of focus
The Swedish massage focuses on the outer layers of muscles and targets the body parts that hold most of the tension, like the back, shoulders, and neck. The DTM focuses on the muscle’s inner layers. It is used for treating the injuries of tendons and muscles, stiffness and pain in the chief joints and muscle groups.
What happens when you get a deep-tissue massage?
The massage therapist will require knowing about your problem areas before starting your DTM. The deep tissue massage can include just one area or your whole body.
When all the things are ready, the therapist will ask you to lie on your stomach or back. The level of undressing depends on your comfort level, but the area that requires working needs to be uncovered.
Using a lighter contact, the massage expert will warm your muscles. After you are warmed, he will initiate working on your areas of trouble. He will use stroking and kneading with different amounts of deep pressure.
What happens after deep tissue massage?
Although some of the strokes may appear the same as those utilized in Swedish therapy, the DTM is not a strong version of a Swedish massage. The DTM techniques are utilized to break up scar tissue and adhesions or muscle knots that can disturb circulation and result in inflammation, limited range of motion, and pain.
At the start of DTM therapy, light pressure is applied to warm up and prepare the muscles.
Some particular techniques are then used. Some common techniques are:
Friction: The pressure is applied across the muscle grains for discharging the adhesions and realigning the tissue fibers.
Stripping: The gliding and deep pressure across the length of muscle fibres utilising thumbs, knuckles, forearm, and elbow.
During the deep tissue massage, the therapist may use forearms, elbows, hands, knuckles, and fingertips. You may be asked to breathe deeply as the therapist works on specific areas.
What to do after deep tissue massage?
After the treatment, you can feel some soreness or stiffness, but it can subside within a day or so. Many clients report that their muscular tension, aches, and pains are alleviated significantly after a relaxing bath with Epsom Salt. Always make sure to talk to your therapist if you have concerns or feel pain after treatment. After the DTM, drinking water may assist in flushing out the metabolic wastes from the tissues.
What condition can deep tissue massage help?
The specific conditions DTM is recommended for the techniques are various. Hence, some for the common involve:
Chronic back pain
The American Academy of Pain Medicine reports that numerous people are suffering from chronic pain, which is more than those suffering from cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease and diabetes. In addition to these, back pain is the most general type of pain reported, leading to 27 per cent of all cases of chronic pain.
It is also the primary cause of disability in people who are 45 years old or younger. The studies have found that deep tissue techniques can assist in easing the pain, permitting these people a chance at an increased quality of life.
Headaches
According to AAPM, severe migraines and headaches are the second most common condition of pain and body therapy can assist in these cases.
The Migraine Relief Center shows that the reason behind this is it increases relaxation, alleviates tension, improves circulation and flow of blood and eases muscle spasms. It is also beneficial when it comes to vascular headaches and stress.
Neck pain
Neck pain is linked with headaches and is the shared pain experienced by adult individuals in America, and manual therapy can assist with this, too. For example, the meta-analysis and systematic review in Evidence-Based Alternative and Complementary Medicine published in 2014 examined 15 studies and established that there was moderate evidence that massage therapy assisted in providing relief.
Shoulder Pain
Research published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science reports that one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders involves shoulder pain, as it affects almost 66.7% of the population. The soft tissue therapy can often assist in reducing this kind of pain, sometimes in some days, around 36 sessions looked to offer the highest relief level.
Plantar fasciitis
According to JAMA Network, plantar fasciitis exists when the fibrous band on the foot bottom becomes inflamed and irritated, resulting in pain around the arch and heel areas. The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine shows that deep tissue massage is an effective treatment for this condition as it aids in breaking the scar tissues, releasing the muscle tension and resulting in elimination.
Posterior interosseus syndrome
Physiopedia clarifies that this syndrome is the compression of the posterior interosseous nerve, which is present near the shaft of the elbow and humerus, which results in paralysis or paresis of the fingers and thumbs. Although dry needling, ultrasound, cryotherapy, and other modalities often assist with this situation so the deep tissue work is focused on the brachioradialis, triceps, pectoralis, thoracic outlet and other related areas.
Client considerations
With the DTM, multiple queries often occur regarding how often the customers should get this kind of massage, who these massages are not suitable for, the possible side effects, and while the deep tissue work discharges the toxins. Here are some of the answers to your related questions.
How often should you get a deep-tissue massage?
The frequency at which the customers get the deep muscle massage differs as it depends on the individual and his/her issues. For people having particular pain complaints, there should be weekly visits for the first 3 to 4 weeks. It permits the body to accommodate the new lengths of tissue and angles of pull on the structure of the bones. It requires some sessions to achieve the required posture, with the soft tissue having a great memory of the last positions.
The prevention of injury is a major part of overall wellness and health. There will be a better result when the patient plays an active role in health and wellness.
Who should not receive deep tissue massage?
The DTM is not for every individual and it involves:
- The people at risk for blood clotting
- Those with recent trauma to the body
- Individuals diagnosed with lymphodema
- Individuals undergoing chemotherapy or radiation
- The individual who takes medication for blood thinning
People with severe osteoporosis should not take deep tissue work. The DTM can cause a lingering soreness, making the treatment unsuitable for people with arthritis.
That’s why it is essential that the practitioners get an entire medical history for the clients. Some of these problems may be shown by asking some questions, for the better protection of the clients.
If anyone has a difficulty getting the treatment comfortably in the past or if the individual experience complications after getting a session (emotional upset, bruising, pain), and they are not a great person for taking the DTM.
What happens when you get a deep-tissue massage?
It is normal to have persistent soreness for some days after tissue therapy. You can use a cold pack covered in a towel or a heating pad to alleviate soreness.
Although it is generally safe to have massage therapy, the DTM may not be safe for every individual as it involves very firm pressure. You can talk to your doctor before you go for deep muscle therapy if you have undergone cancer treatment like radiation and chemotherapy, have cancer, are taking blood thinners, have a clotting disorder or history of blood clots, or have a bleeding disorder.
Individuals having cancer or osteoporosis that reaches the bones should not go for DTM as the pressure may result in a fracture. If you are pregnant, you can hold off on the DTM. In this case, a better choice is having a gentle massage like a Swedish type of bodywork.
If you have any kind of skin infection or an open wound, all you need is rescheduling to keep the new infection away from developing or worsening an already present infection.
What are the side effects of a deep tissue massage?
As the DTM is administered utilizing increased pressure as compared to multiple other kinds of massages, some of the possible side effects may be noted by the customer after the complete session. They involve:
VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM:
The blood clot that is present in the groin, leg, or arm is venous thromboembolism, which travels to the lungs after getting a strong deep tissue massage.
BRUISING:
Although some of the customers have experienced bruising, every therapist should know that the DTM does not cause pain. There is substantial bruising in many clients and in more pain, after looking for another therapist for the deep tissue work, it is pointless.
SPINAL ACCESSORY NEUROPATHY:
Another study published in the Archives of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine showed that people who developed spinal accessory neuropathy had droopy shoulders and scapular winging after the myofascial release due to muscle weakness.
HEPATIC HEMATOMA:
It is one of the painful liver conditions. With myofascial release work, which includes the right upper quadrant and abdomen, there is pain in the right shoulder, nausea, and abdominal discomfort. In the right hepatic lobe, there is a large hematoma in some of the individuals, causing them to feel nauseous and have a fever for almost 6 months. Checking that deep tissue massage can create unintended costs is also essential.
Does deep tissue massage release toxins?
While some individuals regard that as a result of discharging toxins, particularly lactic acid, it is considered a myth as the muscles do not hold this acid for more than one hour.
In addition to these, as far as the other toxins are concerned, the body does a great job removing them on its own through sweating them out or through the internal organs.
The only way that the deep tissue massages assist in this method is by aiding the body to rest and relax so that it can perform these other toxin-discharging functions. Educating the people can assist in clearing up this rather familiar myth.
Why do deep tissue massages hurt?
During the treatment, sometimes, you can feel some pain or discomfort as the therapist works on areas where there is scar tissue or adhesions. Pain is not good, and it is not a signal that the treatment will be beneficial. Of course, the body can tense up when in pain, making it difficult for the therapist to approach the deep muscles.
If you feel pain during the session, you can tell the therapist. The practitioner can change the technique or further prep the tissues if the outer muscles are tense.
Can deep tissue massage cause damage?
Are you familiar with the precautions of DTM? Deep tissue massage is not for every individual, and it is essential to find a well-trained therapist. If you have an existing injury, have nerve damage, are healing from surgery, are pregnant, or are wearing a brace or cast, then discuss this with your physician before going to a massage therapist.
Though there are very few chances, treatment that is not performed well results in increased inflammation, pain, and other issues in a patient at high risk.
Massage therapy VS. Rolfing
Rolfing is a deep manipulation exercise that offers almost the exact benefits of massages. It aids in decreasing pain, correcting posture, improving healing, relieving tension, and lowering stress.
In 1950, Rolfing was introduced by Dr Ida Rolf, who initiated this practice to help treat the damaged fascia, the sheets or bands of fibres of connective tissue in the body that are made under the skin for stabilizing the muscles and organs.
Nowadays, Rolfing is done in almost 10 sessions by professional practitioners for the treatment of a condition such as low energy, stress, neck or back pain, and limited mobility.
According to Rolf, Rolfing improves the functioning and overall alignment of the body as compared to the deep tissue massage in which there is a focus on relief and relaxation of muscle discomfort. The practitioners of Rolfing put their attention on the whole body to improve the alignment or posture in spite of just one specific tense area.
Massage Therapy VS. Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is similar to other therapies but there is something different. Chiropractic adjustments centre on the correction and manipulation of the spine alignment, which helps to correct the posture and reduce nerve damage that results in pain.
Similar to massage, chiropractic care can be efficient for improving recovery and lowering pain. It is also linked to lower headaches, stress and more. A simple way that chiropractic assists in treating pain is by irritating the spinal joints and lowering the mechanical compression.
In comparison with the other experts, the chiropractors get formal training. They are the physicians who require 4-year undergraduate training and also a 4-year doctorate of chiropractic education. Different people also get education for multiple years in nutrition therapy and numerous other healing modalities that improve immunity and lower psychological stress.
How do you find the best deep-tissue massage in town?
Working with a professional therapist is essential if you want to try deep tissue massage once.
To find out a massage therapist, you can ask your family and friends for their recommendations, ask your physical therapist or doctor for a referral or search on your own.
Keep some important things in mind when you are sorting through the therapists:
CREDENTIALS:
Always ask for the credentials and confirm that the therapist is professional and licensed to do the massage therapy in several parts of the body.
COST:
Inquire about the cost per session before your treatment, and the therapist provides multiple incentives, for instance, the option of the sliding scale. You can also discuss it with the health insurance provider as some involve massage therapy, particularly for some definite conditions.
AREA OF FOCUS:
All therapists are not specialized in DTM. Some are professional in multiple types and others provide DTM and what situations they experience during treatment.
A qualified DTM therapist
While the therapists must have a basic knowledge of the DTM, it is good to find a well-trained and accredited therapist. This is particularly the case if you plan to try neuromuscular therapy, which includes deep strokes targeted at the soft and delicate tissue surrounding the nerves.
According to the Center of Neuromuscular Therapy, NMT is among the DTM that prefer applying manual therapy, including quasi-static pressure, to soften the tissue for stimulating the skeletal striated muscle. In response to massaging the inflamed or painful muscle, the part surrounding the affected muscle that manages, the treatment is used to release the tension.
NMT therapist probably centres on the multiple factors that can make an addition to the tissue or muscle dysfunction, involving neurotoxins, allergies, emotional well-being, nutritional components, disruptive habits of use, postural positioning, and joint pathologies.
Specific therapists have specialized training in the techniques that assist in treating people with limitations, inflammation, and injuries. Though more than one session is required to provide relief and check the improvements in the pain, professional therapists can recommend stretches or practices for you that you can try at home that can assist in improving healing.
The regulations for qualifications and requirements for massage vary from country to county. Normally, most of the qualified therapist requires graduating from the accredited program of manaul therapy.
For focused techniques such as neuromuscular therapy, always keep in mind it can be more damaging than helpful if done rightly, particularly, if you are working on healing and already injured. It is a great idea to mention your medical history, the sensitive areas and injuries to the therapist before the beginning of the treatment.
Multiple training programs are now accessible around the globe, and they need a minimum of 500 hours of basic training in massage therapy, in addition to the regular credits that need up to 400 to 500 hours. Check that you are in good hands by checking that the therapist has proper experience and qualifications, particularly inquiring about NMT training, activating the point therapy, orthopaedic massage, myofascial release, pain management, and sports massage.
What is deep tissue massage definition? The final thoughts!
DTM therapy is a manipulative and firm bodywork practice that utilizes movement and pressure to release the deep tissue layers, involving fascia and tension (the protective layer around the joints, bones, and muscles).
The DTM involves more pressure, lasts for a long time and is usually slow compared to the relaxation or Swedish massage. The advantages of the deep tissue technique include improving recovery from injuries, lowering blood pressure, reducing the symptoms of arthritis, treating anxiety, lowering spasms, and releasing chronic muscle tension.
The DTM suits best for individuals who are involved in highly physical activities, for instance, running, or those having chronic pain or injury. The Swedish massage is the best option and gentle solution if you are looking for relief from tense muscles or a low pain threshold. Talk to your doctor before you try DTM if you have a primary medical condition.
If you want to get the best deep-tissue massage, then you are at the right place. You have found a professional and trained therapist who will initiate your treatment after taking a detailed medical history. Many patients feel a great difference in our treatment compared to others. Choose us to make your life comfortable.
