Deep Tissue Massage is a type of Remedial Massage Technique used to loosen tight muscles.. A very firm pressure is applied as part of your massage but still involves flowing strokes. It is often used in conjunction with Trigger Point Therapy in a Remedial Massage consultation at one of our two Brisbane clinics.
When should you ask your remedial massage therapist to add this type of massage into your massage treatment plan?
- You have feel like you have really tight muscles
- For postural problems
- If you know you have scar tissue and/or suspected muscle adhesions
- Lower Back Pain and/or Headaches cause from muscle tightness
- If you are trying to improve your flexibility
- If you are stretching and triggering all the time but feel like you're just not getting anywhere
What does it involve?
Deep tissue massage is effective for treating tension caused by day to day activities of life including work and exercise. It is particularly effective when muscles are located quite 'deep' compared to some of the more superficial muscles of the body. For example - Gluts respond extremely well to deep tissue massage because they are such a large muscle group, with many components. Often a firm pressure, that penetrates through the superficial layers of tissue and fascia will have great long term results in reducing hip and lower back tightness.
The technique incorporates long, slow, firm strokes following the direction of the muscle fibres. Your remedial massage therapist will often use their elbows, thumbs and knuckles to increase the pressure they can apply.
Please note that this remedial massage technique is used in conjunction with other massage techniques such as trigger point therapy and general effleurage (massage) strokes. The aim being to give you and your muscles time to relax and recover between periods where a deeper pressure is applied in your massage. This stops your from tensing up and having to resisting what your remedial massage is doing in your treatment.
Your therapist will usually begin by warming up the area to be massaged with some lighter massage techniques and / or myofascial release work before applying deep tissue massage techniques. This helps to ease the body into the more firm pressure.
What should it feel like?
Everyone can tolerate a different amount of pressure during a massage. Often people come in believing in the saying 'no pain - no gain.' This is true to a certain extent when using deep tissue massage techniques. To get changes in muscle tone through massage there is going to be some level of discomfort.
However it is the degree of discomfort that is important. It has to be within YOUR pain threshold. Just Knead It Therapists aim for deeper massage techniques to be applied at around an 8 or 9 out of 10 (on a pain scale) for a short amount of time and then in between session of 'deep tissue massage' around a 5 -7 based on a person's pain tolerance. As some of our patients like to tell us - Good Pain! We will constantly ask you for feedback regarding the pressure to ensure we keep within those levels.
Just remember there is such a thing as too hard.
- It should not be excruciating or unbearable for long periods of time during the massage
- You should not be sore for more than 3 days after a massage
- Bruising can happen, particularly to people with fair skin but please let your massage therapist know if this occurs so they can adjust their treatment for you.
- You shouldn't feel too much 'muscle guarding' (where you find you're having to tense your muscles to resist the pressure the therapist is applying.)
If this does occur we highly recommend you discuss this with your massage therapist at your next session or give them a call with some feedback.
TIPS:
Make sure you take deep breaths as your massage therapist is performing this type of massage. This will help you cope with the harder pressure as well as help your muscles to loosen faster. Try to relax your muscles as much as possible. (Yes we know at times this is difficult!) The quicker you and your muscles relax the quicker your therapist can get through an area and decrease the pressure.
The MOST important part of a massage - COMMUNICATION!
After many years of remedial massage we pride ourselves on being pretty spot when judging how hard to go on each individual in their massage. However we will often ask you throughout the massage and if you are finding that we are not going hard enough or are going to hard please let us know then and there!
For Pricing and more information visit out Remedial Massage Page
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