The name "deep tissue massage" can sound intimidating and cause misunderstandings. The body is created in layers, with skin and superficial connective tissue first, then muscular connective tissue, superficial muscle fibers, and deep muscle fibers; there are also muscles that are more superficial and muscles located deeper in the body.
Deep tissue massage is designed to get at the deeper layers muscle and connective tissues, which is where the origin of pain and stiffness often resides, and sometimes to the deeper muscles that are not accessed easily through more superficial massage techniques.
Deep tissue massage involves using appropriate pressure...it should never cause pain or a fear response! Communication between the therapist and client is very important to assure the correct areas are being worked on and the right amount of pressure is being used. Deep tissue massage involves:
using static (unmoving) pressure to help knots or trigger points in muscle release their tension;
friction-like strokes in small or large areas to assist muscle injuries to heal by stimulating connective tissue production and making existing scar tissue more flexible;
long strokes to define and sculpt muscle tissue, to stretch muscle and connective tissue and make it more flexible;
passive positioning of the client's body to help a deep area of muscle or tissue stretch;
active movement on the client's part to help muscle and connective tissue re-learn or learn new range of motion; and
facilitated and resistance stretching to help muscle gain greater range of motion and create new muscle memory.
For details on the bodywork methods and massage therapy techniques I use, click here.