Deep Tissue Massage
Being true to its name, deep tissue massage specifically focuses on the muscles located just underneath the top muscles. It makes use of strong pressure applied through slow and deep strokes as also friction across the muscle grain to release chronic muscle tension. It has been found to be highly successful in case of athletes and patients with physical injuries.
Deep tissue massage relaxes the muscles and enhances the blood flow and oxygen flow through out the body. It works through ridding the body muscles of toxins.
What is Deep Tissue Massage?
The Deep Tissue Massage is the therapy focussing on the deeper layers of muscles with the therapists stressing on particular area at a time. It helps reduce chronic tension from the body muscles through use of slow strokes and deep finger pressure. The therapist so as to release the stress works either along or across the fibres of muscles, fascia or tendons.
The massage employs numerous strokes and has similarities with classic massage therapy. The main difference lies in the fact here the movement is slower with deeper pressure. Moreover, the pressure is applied on the specific areas of pain and tension. It also involves applying friction across the grain of the muscles and not with the grain.
When is Deep Tissue Massage needed?
The most important use of the deep tissue massage is for the people involved in physically demanding professions like athletics and people suffering from physical injuries. It has been found to be helpful particularly in case of chronically tense areas like stiff necks, sore shoulder and tightness in low back. It is the best massage for people with muscular pain.
The most common problems for which it is the most effective therapy are chronic pain, restricted mobility, repetitive strain injury, osteoarthritis pain, fibromyalgia pain, postural problems. As a matter of fact deep tissue massage has been found to be the best cure for fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis pain.
In addition to relieving chronic muscle pain, deep tissue massage also helps break down the scar tissue and knots in the muscles.
Due to the massage being concentrated on a particular area it sometimes causes little soreness during the therapy session or may be afterwards. But thats only a little issue as within couple of days you start feeling better.
Deep Tissue Massage as part of other therapies.
The deep tissue massage is a very popular and commonly used technique for massaging. Sometimes its used exclusively but is an essential part of many other forms of therapies as well. It has found a lot acceptance among physiotherapists, chiropractors, etc and is used very extensively.
Some of the popular massage techniques that utilise deep tissue massage include Swedish massage, sports massage, lymphatic massage, Thai massage, cupping, trigger point therapy, etc.
What precautions are needed to be taken?
Before one decides to go for deep tissue massage there are certain points that must be kept in mind.
- One must not have any infectious skin disease or rashes
- Dont get a deep tissue massage immediately after chemotherapy or surgery
- One should not be prone to blood clots
- Pregnant woman should get a deep tissue massage only if advised by doctor
- No massage should be given over bruises, wounds, hernia, or recent fractures.