Therapeutic Deep Tissue Massage
Therapeutic Deep Tissue Massage is one of the most popular types of massage therapy at Tree of Health and Wellbeing Tenerife. Usually, it is used to relieve pain in tight, tension-filled muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and/ or joints, but it is always used by our therapist following an injury or as part of a rehabilitation plan.
Often people describe how this feels by stating “they have got knots”.
This massage treats muscles that are chronically tight or need a physiological release of tension. It can be given for the entire body or focused just on one area i.e. the back
Deep Tissue Massage typically uses slower strokes with deeper pressure into the muscles to release tension and to break up scar tissue. At Tree of Health and Wellbeing Tenerife, our highly experienced and knowledgeable therapist incorporates different massage techniques that are used on various layers of the fascia that surrounds our muscles.
STAGES OF DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE
Muscle preparation – Our therapist will start by warming up your muscles by applying oil and light pressure to the areas they’ll be working on.
Often other therapists only use this technique as a token undertaking and go straight to the stripping.
We in contrast find that by providing greater muscle preparation allows the muscles to both warm and relax, so when we move into the other techniques there is less discomfort and increased likelihood of promoting improvement. A good deep tissue treatment involves skill and patience!
Stripping – This is a technique applied using thumbs, knuckles, forearms or elbows. During this phase you’ll feel a gliding pressure along the fibres of your muscles.
Friction: Here, pressure is applied across the grain of your muscles with the aim of realigning tissue fibres and releasing any adhesions (areas of rigid tissue) that cause discomfort.
If the pressure causes pain to radiate to another area, the area is considered a trigger point. Trigger Point Therapy focuses on bands of muscle tissue that release when pressure is added and, in turn, returns the muscle to its normal function.
Massage tools and stones may also be used to encourage tight muscles to release and relax. At Tree of Health and Wellbeing Tenerife we use WaveStone technology and a variety of other massage tools
When Deep tissue massage is also given in order to help alleviate pain associated with a medical condition or syndrome, the work will be adapted.
Many different types of massage therapy help to release stress and worry, but deep tissue releases muscle restrictions that cannot be relieved in a light, Holistic therapy protocol.
It’s important to know that it isn’t unusual to feel a degree of discomfort during the massage itself, however as detailed above we try to reduce this as much as possible by getting the areas to self-anesthetise. The whole point of this treatment is to break up muscle tension, adhesions and scar tissue that often lie in deeper musculature, so your therapist will likely be applying a good deal of pressure. However, you should let them know if this becomes too uncomfortable. Expect to be asked to breathe deeply when the person treating you is working on especially tense or deep areas of your muscles.
You can also expect to experience some stiffness and soreness in the day or so following your deep tissue massage. Of course, if this pain doesn’t naturally fade away then you should get in touch with your therapist to talk it through.
Now you know what to expect with regard to the stages of a deep tissue massage, here are some tips to make the most of this treatment.
Knowing that your deep tissue massage might cause some pain can understandably make you nervous. However, we will try to encourage you to relax.
Bear in mind that the temporary soreness that can come during this therapy is all working to help alleviate the longer term discomfort that you’ve been experiencing. There are many benefits of deep tissues massages, especially when it comes to chronic pain.
Tensing up during the massage will also make it more difficult for your therapist to work, meaning it will be less likely that the therapy achieves the results you’re hoping for.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE?
The reason most people decide to have a deep tissue massage is to deal with a specific problem.
Common examples may include, but aren’t limited to:
- Chronic muscle pain
- Injury rehabilitation and athletic recovery
- Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Osteoarthritis
- Postural difficulties
- Tennis elbow
- Sciatica
- Limited mobility
- Lower back pain
- Breaking up scar tissue
In all of these instances the main aims of deep tissue massage are to lessen discomfort and pain, as well as increasing your body’s capacity to heal itself.
