True pain (OUCH! level) isn’t good, and it’s a sign that the pressure is too much. After the massage, you may feel some stiffness or soreness, but it should subside within a day or so.Īt certain times during the massage, you may feel some low to high ranges of discomfort as the massage therapist works on areas where there are adhesions or scar tissue. You may be asked to breathe deeply as the massage therapist works on tense areas.
Massage therapists may use fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and forearms during a deep tissue massage. At the beginning of a deep tissue massage, lighter pressure is generally applied to warm up and prepare the muscles. These techniques are used to break up scar tissue and physically break down muscle “knots” or adhesions (planes of stuff muscle glued together by sticky stuff in the body) that can disrupt circulation and cause pain, limited range of motion, and inflammation. Contrary to popular belief, deep tissue is not a pressure level, but a whole set of massage techniques. While some of the strokes may feel the same as those used in Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage isn’t a stronger version of a Swedish massage.
If you have never received a deep tissue massage, here’s what to expect. whiplash, falls)-Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome-Postural problems-Muscle tension in the hamstrings, glutes, IT band, legs, quadriceps, rhomboids, upper back-Osteoarthritis pain-Sciatica -Piriformis syndrome-Tennis elbow-Fibromyalgia-Upper back or neck pain. It’s used to release tight, contracted areas of muscles.ĭeep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as chronic muscle pain, injury rehabilitation, and the following conditions: Low back pain – Limited mobility-Recovery from injuries (e.g. Deep tissue, a popular massage modality, involves applying firm pressure and slow strokes to reach deeper layers of muscle and fascia.