subject: Combat Stress And Fight Pain Using A Fun, Relaxing Deep Tissue Massage [print this page] Deep tissue massage uses strokes across the grain of the muscles - not with the grain - as in Swedish massage. The more intense movements and techniques used in deep tissue massage such as deep finger pressure may be slightly uncomfortable and cause soreness that lasts a couple of days before resulting in the desired relaxation and pain relief. Deep tissue massage uses some of the same strokes used in traditional massage techniques, but the movement is more deliberate and the pressure used is more intense.
When someone experiences an injury or the effects of chronic stress and tension, small areas of hard, painful tissue - called adhesions - can form causing inflammation and pain. Deep tissue massage therapy can effectively break down these adhesions to return your body to its natural state, reduce pain and improve your body's ease of movement.
Some people report some pain or discomfort during a deep tissue massage; if that occurs during your session, it is important that you let your therapist know so he or she adjust the amount of pressure and movements being applied. If you do experience any discomfort as a result of a deep tissue massage, it should only last a day or two and any pain can be lessened by the application of ice on the area where the pain is centered.
Many sufferers of diseases such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia claim that deep tissue massage therapy works better for providing relief of their symptoms than traditional methods such as exercise, medication and physical therapy. Deep tissue massage also differs from traditional massage (which is used primarily for its relaxation properties) in its effectiveness to treat:
Limited mobility;
Chronic pain;
Repetitive injury strain (such as carpal tunnel syndrome)
Problems with posture;
Muscle spasms resulting from tension.
During the deep tissue massage, your therapist may ask you to breathe deeply when he addresses certain tense areas. He or she will use their hands, forearms, fingertips, knuckles and elbows to administer the massage. Because deep tissue massage works to flush certain metabolic waste from the tissues, it is important that you drink plenty of water after the therapy. And eating a heavy meal prior to a deep tissue massage is not recommended.
So, is deep tissue massage therapy the right solution for everyone? Because of the intensity of the pressure used during this type of massage, it is not the right treatment for anyone who has the following conditions:
Currently suffers from open wounds, bruises or any type of skin disease;
Has recently fractured a bone or had surgery;
Is receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy;
Experiences blood clots;
Is currently pregnant;
Has tumors, abdominal hernia or inflammation of the skin.
