If you face muscle soreness or experience stress, deep tissue massage might solve your problem. For thousands of years, massage therapy has been treating those kinds of issues in the human body.
Massage is widely known as relaxation and stress relief. Besides, it also treats fatigue, arthritis, bursitis, high blood pressure and depression. Deep tissue massage (DTM) therapy is an advance massage technique, which can actively treat those issues.
What is Deep Tissue Massage Therapy?
Deep tissue is a unique massage technique which is usually used for musculoskeletal issues. It may include sports injuries and strains. Sustainable pressure with slow and deep strokes is applied to the target areas. It helps relaxing inner layers of the muscles as well as connective tissues. Besides, the massage process breaks the scar tissues that occur from an injury.
Eventually, this therapy increases the blood flow and reduces inflammation.
History of Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is believed to be invented in the early 1800s. However, in general, the massage had begun more than 5000 years ago. Initially, in the East and West civilizations, the use of touch was considered as a natural system of healing for pain and injuries. Among all the massage techniques, deep tissue was regarded as holistic treatment. Although, in the late 1800s, deep tissue massage got new development in Canada. Since then, more and more techniques have developed until now.
Types :
There are different types of deep tissue massage, which are suited for various purposes. Following are the most common types.
- Sports massage: This type of massage is applied to recover from all kinds of sports injuries. Superficial strokes are used for sports massage. Sports Massage for Injury Care “Kindle Edition”
- Trigger point massage: Sometimes, we may feel tensions on exposed body parts such as back, feet and legs. A deep tissue massage therapy can get rid of tensions from these body parts, which helps to promote better circulation. Trigger point massage is applied to one targeted area for 30 seconds with a sustainable pressure. The Trigger Point Therapy “Kindle Edition”
- Rolfing: It is used to rejoice the connective tissues, that help to release tension, better posture, remove muscle pains and makes the muscle strength to prevent injury. Rolfing: Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being “Kindle Edition”
- Neuromuscular therapy: It is given only on a specific area of the body at a time, and it is intense. Neuromuscular Therapy Manual, “Kindle Edition”
All of those, techniques involves specific strokes and hand positions. And the only expert certified person can do the massage.
What are the benefits of a deep tissue massage?
Deep tissue massage is beneficial for physical health as well as mental health. However, the following 7 are the most useful for the body and mind.
- Stress relief
Among all the benefits of deep tissue massage, stress relief is the top priority. If you are stressed because of work pressure or personal reason, a massage can make you relax. Although, a massage can increase the oxytocin level while lower the cortisol level, which ultimately gives a soothing.
- Reduce the blood pressure
If you have high blood pressure with elevated heart rate, deep tissue massage can results you a positive impact. Additionally, it also increases serotonin production, which brings happiness to mind.
- Reduce pain
Chronic pain in the lower back is a common issue for all working personnel. Although, stiff necks, plantar fasciitis and fibromyalgia are also common issues, which can be treated with good massage therapy.
According to research, deep massage can relieve chronic pain effectively than the medication.
- Arthritis symptoms
Arthritis is a common problem for aged people, which lead to sleep issues for some senior citizens. A massage with moderate pressure can reduce the pain occurs due to arthritis, and it makes it easier for patients to move around.
- Makes movement easier by breaking up scars tissue
Healthy tissue may turn to scars due to accidents, injury etc. They often lead to stiffness and chronic pain. A few deep tissue massage session helps to break the scar tissue and improve the lymphatic circulation. Besides, it can help a recovering surgery patient to minimize scar tissue.
- Labour and delivery
During labour pain, a deep tissue massage can reduce pain. As massage can increase the cortisol, it can minimize depression and anxiety along with leg and back pain.
- Rehabilitations of injured muscles
A deep tissue massage is popular to the athletes, who can face injuries on the field. It can help to stretch knotted or tight muscles, which can release toxins from the body. Many physicians incorporate massage therapy to an injured athlete.
How often should you get a deep tissue massage?
Taking a deep tissue therapy varies from person to person. However, there is no theory on the frequency, as it depends on the symptoms and conditions.
For an average person, a monthly session is good enough to keep the muscles fit. For professional athletes, it depends on the level of activity. They can take a weekly or bi-weekly meeting; however, consulting a therapist can advise the proper frequency.
What should I do after taking a deep tissue massage?
For the newbie, the deep tissue massage could be painful for the first time. The first thing you have to do after a successful massage is, keep yourself relax. Also, keep in mind that the temporary soreness due to massage is going to heal your injured tissues.
As you already know, massage can help to stimulate the blood circulation. Although, the important nutrients and oxygen circulates through the muscle as well as assist in cleaning the toxins. So, drinking plenty of water makes this process easier and faster.
The pain is temporary, but if you feel extreme pain, you can put some ice on your affected area. It will reduce soreness.
Effective techniques of deep tissue massage
A massage therapist needs to have a particular set of methods along with tools to perform a successful massage. When it comes to deep tissue massage therapy, a higher intense group of techniques is a must need. Following are some effective techniques for different deep tissue massage.
- Cross-fibre friction
Muscle fibres can be effected through tear, sprains and breaks. As a result, scar tissues form. Cross-fiber is applied to the direction of the muscle through rubbing. The goal of this kind of technique is to start the healing procedure of the damaged tissue.
- Myofascial release
It is done through slow strokes to impact the body’s fascial layer, which is located in between the visible skin layer and muscle. A sustained and gradual pressure opens up the fascia, which is very useful to reduce the pain.
- Muscle stripping
It is applied along the length of a muscle and moved through the muscle fibre direction. It is also known as longitudinal friction, and its primary goal is to elongate muscle fibres.
- Pin and stretch
It involves pinning a portion of a muscle at the same time moving the rest of the muscle from the pinned area. Pin and stretch are intended to stretch the muscle that is attached to the pinned point.
Who can Perform Deep Tissue Massage?
All cannot perform deep tissue massage; hence, you will need to find a certified professional. However, anyone can learn techniques for performing the massage, but those are not authentic. Only an approved and recognized therapist can perform this massage. Now, the question is to know if the person is certified. Whenever you go to a massage therapist, you will see the certificate is visible to you in the workplace. If you don’t see any of the papers, you may ask for it to verify before taking a massage.
Anyone can do the course and get a certificate on massaging. Let’s get details about the deep tissue massage courses.
Deep Tissue Massage Course
Any adult person can take the course and start a career as a therapist. For the beginners 1-day deep tissue massage course is perfect to start. Besides, there are also some advance courses available to enrich your future. At D2D Therapies Ltd, we provide one day certified course, which is accredited by IPTI, Westminster Indemnity, and IPHM.
This one day course will cost £450, which will guide the student the practical massage as well as theoretical. The course will teach-
> Preparation of the body before performing the massage
> Theory of the deep tissue massage
> Surface anatomy of our body
> Practical deep tissue massage
> How to perform the massage on different clients
> Effective posture
> How to keep your hands safe during the massage
> All the massage techniques
> Soft massage techniques
> Treating knots and sore points
Entry requirement
As we have said earlier, it a beginner’s friendly course, anyone can enter the course. However, for the advance courses, this entry-level course is a prerequisite.
Our course can be done on campus at our place as well as at your home through freelance home tuition. Although we have limited seats for a session and our courses run on the weekend. So that everyone can join, however, to reserve your spot you have to pay £30, which will be adjusted with £450 when you start the course.
Are Deep Tissue Massage and Swedish Massage Same?
Many people get confused with the Swedish massage and deep tissue massage. Initially, it looks the same. But there is the difference in techniques, intend and pressure.
On Swedish massage, a series of light and long strokes are used to release the surface tension. On the other hand, deep tissue massage may include similar kinds of stokes, but forcefully.
Usually, the Swedish therapy involves light to firm pressure while deep tissue therapy applies harder pressure.
Relaxation is the main goal for a Swedish massage, while deep tissue is intended to recover someone from pain or injury. Massage Gun Deep Tissue Massager – “Buy Now”
Can deep tissue massage cause damage?
Till now, we have discussed all the good stuff about deep tissue massage. However, it has some side effects too. Though, cause of damage depends on the patient’s history. Following are some of the common side effects everyone should know.
> Muscle Ache: Right after the massage, you may feel muscle ache. However, it is temporary and may last for a few days. Those aches are not a side effect, but it lasts long, you should talk to your therapist.
> Prolonged Pain: If you feel pain in your massaged area for more than 2-4 days, you should consult the therapist or a doctor.
> Headache: This is very rare. Some clients may feel a minor headache for the first time as their body usually didn’t take the massage before. Staying relax during the DTM can prevent a headache.
> Skin Redness: It is the most common but stayed for a short period. You should not get worried even if you have an allergy. Redness is a good sign, which shows the perfect stimulation of the muscle.
Are deep tissue massages painful?
DTM is painful for the beginners, but, it becomes normal after you attend a few sessions. As soon as your body gets familiar with the pressured massage therapy, you will not feel the pain. You will find it relaxing.
Precautions
Deep tissue massage therapy is not applicable to everyone. It is not safe for people with blood clots, and they should consult their doctor if they want to take the massage. Although, if you just had surgery or radiation, you should avoid massage. Osteoporosis patients should also avoid pressured tissue massage.
We already know that it is applied to heal the muscle; however; DTM should not perform on bruises and infected skins.
DTM is beneficial during labour pain and delivery, but pregnant women should not take massage therapy. It would be best to consult their doctor whether they can take deep tissue massage. Massage Gun Deep Tissue Massager – “Buy Now”
Conclusion
Deep tissue massage therapy is just not a regular massage. It is a healing process for sore muscle, which is done with deep pressure. Though the goal and techniques seem to a Swedish massage, both of them are different.
Before a DTM, you should know your body conditions and consult with the therapist in details about your intention to get the massage.
I hope this article on DTM will educate you on everything you need to know about deep tissue massage.