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Treatment for musculoskeletal problems including strains and sports injuries commonly involves deep tissue massage. The inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues are steadily pressed upon utilizing long, soft strokes. In addition to alleviating muscle and tissue tension, this helps to break up post-injury scar tissue.
It might promote speedier healing by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation. It is a sort of massage that focuses on the body's deep and underlying tissues, including the covering that protects the muscles, bones, and joints. To release muscular knots and ultimately relieve pain, expert massage therapists will apply firm pressure and continuous deep strokes at a rhythmic speed. Moreover, the muscles that scar after a muscle injury are soothed.
Goals of Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue has been shown to reduce discomfort, break up scar tissue and adhesions, and enhance muscle function and range of motion. It is thought that strained muscles hinder the passage of nutrients and oxygen, producing inflammation and the buildup of toxins in the muscle tissue. Release of toxins from the muscles, relief of tense muscles, and improved blood and oxygen circulation can all be facilitated by deep tissue massage. After a deep tissue treatment, it is important to drink a lot of water to help the body remove the various toxins that are produced.
A "hard massage" is only one aspect of a deep tissue massage. It relaxes the muscles, and carefully extends the fascia, muscles, and tendons. The number of benefits of massage therapy like this include better posture, faster injury recovery, and increased joint mobility. It’s commonly used to treat:
v Continual Pain
v Restricted Movement
v Recuperation after Injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls, and sports injury)
v Damage from Repetitive Strain (carpal tunnel syndrome)
v Posture issues
v Pain from osteoarthritis
v Muscle spasm or tension
How does Deep Tissue Massage Compare to Swedish Massage?
Swedish massage and deep tissue massage are the two different styles of massage therapy. Each uses parts of the same strokes, yet they are used for various things and require quite different pressure levels.
Compared to a traditional Swedish massage, which often uses longer, gliding strokes meant to calm the complete person rather than addressing a localized tension, deep tissue massage targets muscle and fascia at a higher intensity level. Petrissage or friction treatments will be used by the therapist to loosen and relax the tissue, boost blood flow, and remove cellular waste.
Local massage therapists can also locate the knotted, tense, or spasming areas by applying deep pressure to the muscle and fascia tissue. They will examine the muscles, tendons, and fascia with gentle, deliberate strokes while letting the tissue adjust to the pressure.
Techniques Used in Deep Tissue Massage
Trigger Point Therapy
A trigger point can be released in a variety of ways. The most typical method is applying steady pressure with the fingers, thumb, elbow, or a massage ball or tool. Trigger point therapy using dry needling is another technique that is gaining popularity as more research demonstrates its efficacy. Exercising these sites will stop the nerves from firing unnecessarily, hence relieving pain.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release attempts to alleviate discomfort by relaxing the tension and tightness in the trigger points. Identifying the trigger point that produces the discomfort is not always easy. It is quite challenging to pinpoint a single trigger point for pain. Because of this, myofascial release is frequently applied to several locations rather than a single muscle or piece of tissue.
The best massage therapist will apply light pressure to the myofascial while feeling for any tight or stiff spots. Myofascial that is healthy should be supple and elastic. The therapist will begin massaging and stretching the regions that feel tight with light physical pressure. After that, the therapist helps the tissue and protective sheath release pressure and tightness.
Cross-Fiber and Longitudinal Friction
One of the few therapy massage techniques that effectively minimize fibrosis and promote the development of strong, malleable scar tissue at the site of healing injuries is the cross-fiber massage technique, also known as cross-fiber friction, deep transverse friction, or deep transverse friction. This method lessens the crystalline roughness that can cause painful tendonitis and develops between tendons and their sheaths. Myofascial adhesions can be avoided or loosened with its help.
Muscle adhesions are broken apart by using longitudinal (with the grain) and cross-fiber friction procedures.
How Risky are Deep Tissue Massages?
Regions that are profoundly knotted or very tight can cause some pain or discomfort to release, though the perceived severity relies greatly on one's pain tolerance.
A deep tissue massage is not at all harmful when performed by a licensed and skilled masseuse. But, when the message is being given, you can feel some pressure. You can experience some soreness for a few hours following a deep tissue massage because it exerts pressure on the body's innermost tissues. However, the discomfort is only an indicator that your muscles and tissues were exercised. Inform your therapist right away if you experience severe pain. To guarantee that all the lactic acid leaves your body, drink a lot of water.
The Conclusion
A deep tissue massage is a terrific approach to get rid of knots and adhesions in underlying muscle and fascia as well as to relieve soreness and stress in problem areas. The number of times you can receive a deep tissue massage is not constrained. Some people receive these massages frequently since a deep massage frequently relieves chronic pain. Nonetheless, it is best to speak with your sports massage therapist about the frequency if you do have a specific issue.