Deep Tissue Massage

Most professional licensed massage therapists have a strong preference for having access to lots of different massage techniques. They want this access because they often encounter patients who have issues that require different approaches to treatment.

If you have recently experienced a significant injury to your musculoskeletal system, you might be a good candidate for deep tissue massage treatment. With that in mind, the following information will focus on defining this massage technique. It will also let you know how you can benefit from this technique.

To understand how the deep tissue massage technique works, you only have to read the following definition as it is written in The Free Dictionary by Farlax: Deep tissue massage “A type of massage in which the fingers, thumbs, and elbows are used to release chronic muscle tension, using slow, deep strokes and friction; the therapist may work perpendicularly to the length of the fibers of the superficial muscles, with the intent of massaging muscle that lies underneath.”

To summarize, a massage therapist will use significant pressure on inner muscles for the purpose of increasing the flow of the blood to the targeted muscle, plus the other muscles and soft tissues in the same area. The increase of blood serves to break up scar tissue, heal torn muscle fibers, and decrease the tension that keeps muscles from stretching and healing.

If a massage therapist were to recommend you go through deep tissue massage treatments, they would only do so if they thought you could benefit from deep tissue massage treatments.

In fact, deep tissue massage treatments are used to treat some of the following issues:

• Sports injuries to muscles and soft tissues
• Back, neck, and joint pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Heart issues and high blood pressure
• Tendon issues like “tennis elbow” and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Sciatica (the nerve that runs through the spine and into the legs)

While targeting these and other muscle/soft tissue issues with deep tissue massage therapy, there are many ways in which you might benefit. Some of the benefits are physical, as expected, and some are psychological. The most prominent benefits include the following.

Pain neck/back relief

Other than the pain issues caused by broken bones and fractures, most back/neck pain issues are created because of muscle and soft tissue issues. As deep tissue massage therapy increases the flow of healthy blood to the area of the target muscles/soft tissue, the treated areas will start to relax and heal. As that process continues, patients should start to experience pain relief. The pain relief could be centered in the neck, back, or joints.

Healing of injuries

When a muscle or soft tissue experiences a minor tear, it has to heal by natural means. This is accomplished by finding ways to increase the flow of healthy into the injured area. Through the deep tissue massage treatment process, the muscles are stretched and moved about, which creates a better flow of blood to the injured area.

It’s worth noting that the deeper a therapist goes with a deep tissue massage, the more likely they are to prompt injury healing in areas that are otherwise difficult to reach. That would include the smaller muscles that lie underneath the major muscle groups.

Improve the body’s immune response

The immune system is not hard to understand. When viruses and bacteria attack the human body, it’s the red and white blood cells that have to go to battle.

As we have already discussed, increasing the free flow of healthy blood has healing properties. That is especially true as it relates to the immune response. Increased blood flow created by the deep tissue massage process ensures that more blood (red and white blood cells) will be flowing through the body.

Lower the blood pressure

As a therapist employs a deep tissue massage treatment, it helps the targeted muscles to relax. As muscles relax one by one, the whole human body starts to relax. When a patient is relaxed and experiencing less pain due to muscle and injury issues, it’s going to naturally decrease the patient’s heart rate, and hence their blood pressure.

Relief of Stress and depression

Some of the benefits of deep tissue massage come from the way the treatment affects the patient’s psychology.

When someone is injured or experiencing muscle strain, it’s only natural that they would feel stressed to the point of experiencing depression. The combination of pain relief, muscle tension relief, and the increase in the flow of healthy blood throughout the body can improve the patient’s mood. Improved mood usually results in less depression.

If you are experiencing pain related to muscle tension or an injury to a muscle or soft tissue, deep tissue massage might be the right treatment option. That would be something your massage therapist would have to determine.

If you would like more information about how we use deep tissue massage therapy, you can reach out to us via phone 303-630-9603 or fill out our online form.