There was a time when the thought of a massage would bring a spa to mind. A luxurious setting in a health club or at an upscale resort may come to mind. Times have changed and so has deep tissue massage therapy.
There is a variety of massage types. The general term means the manipulation and rubbing of the skin, tendons, muscles and ligaments. Therapists generally use their hands and fingers for massage, but may also incorporate the use of elbows and forearms to achieve the desired result.
Deep tissue massage uses a more forceful approach. The slow, forceful technique is used to target those layers of connective tissue and muscle that are deeper in the body. This is usually the method chosen for the relief of damage due to injuries. Deep muscle massage concentrates on realigning the deeper layers of muscle. While many of the movements are the same, the strokes are slower and deeper.
Although massage has been considered an alternative type of medicine in the past, it is becoming increasingly popular among professionals for relief of many conditions and various situations. People who have subscribed to the use of deep muscle massage will be quick to tell you of its many benefits.
Deep tissue massage breaks down the adhesions (bands of rigid, painful tissue) and consequently relieves pain and allows the client to restore natural movement.
During the massage, the client may experience some discomfort due to the pressure applied. The client needs to tell the therapist when the pain or discomfort is beyond their personal comfort zone.
The problems that are generally dealt with during deep tissue massage are:
1. Limited mobility due to injury or disease process
2. Chronic pain
3. Carpal tunnel syndrome and other injuries that may be caused by repetitive movement
4. Osteoarthritis
5. Whiplash, sports injuries or falls
6. Fibromyalgia
7. Muscle spasm
During the massage, the therapist will ask you to take deep breaths. This is done at certain points of the massage when the therapist is working on specific areas. The process will release metabolic waste substances from the muscles. It is important to drink a large amount of water following the massage. This will flush the waste from the system.
If you have never had a deep tissue massage, be aware that you should not eat a heavy meal prior to your appointment. You should arrive 5 minutes early so you can have a few minutes to rest and relax before starting the massage.
Fran Kehoe is a fully qualified and insured Sports & Remedial Massage Therapist with ITEC Diplomas in Sports Massage, Reflexology, Anatomy & Physiology, Holistic Massage and a FHT Certificate in Deep Tissue Massage at The Massage Centre, Chiswick.
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