Tense tight muscles can be caused by physical work, by over exercising, stress, injury, congenital conditions, among others causes. Deep Tissue is not generally applied to the entire body as Swedish massage is. It is performed only on tense, tight muscles; and may be applied only to one or two body parts in a session, for example:
- The back;
- Runners may have DT done to their thighs and/or lower legs;
- People who use their arms extensively in their work (such as massage therapists [big smile] or construction workers) would have their arms done;
- People who use computers extensively would want DT to their necks and shoulders.
A little bit of Swedish Massage is actually done first: In order to affect the deeper muscles, the muscle layers above them (the superficial muscles) must be relaxed first, allowing the massage therapist access to the deeper muscles. But the deeper muscles are often unaffected by this lighter massage technique.
To work on the deeper muscles, the massage therapist (MT) uses greater pressure and more specificity. One muscle at a time is worked. To work deeper, the massage therapist will use any of the following tools: his/her fingers with hands either side by side or one on top of the other, individual fingers and thumbs, heel of the hand, fist, knuckles, forearm and elbow. The massage table is lower than for a Swedish massage so that the MT has leverage. While some of the same Swedish strokes are used, they are done more slowly and with deeper pressure. Friction is generally faster and deeper and across the grain of the muscle fibers.
How Deep Should Deep Tissue Massage Be?
Since the pressure is deep and the muscles involved are generally tense, tight and sore, there can often be some pain associated with a DT massage. However, and this is a big however, it should not be excruciatingly painful. Massage therapists use a 10-point pain/pressure. Pressure that is a "10" would be the most excruciating pain you could ever image. The lightest touch would be a "1." Pain that hurts but hurts good is generally rated a "7;" once it goes beyond hurting good, it has become an "8" or a "9." Everything below a "7" is generally not painful, but is felt as varying degrees of pressure. Most Swedish massage is done in the 3-5 pressure range: you feel the pressure and it feels good.
In a DT massage, the MT aims to work the muscles at the 6-7 pain/pressure level. If the pressure is at this level, the client should not experience pain afterwards because of the massage. This level of pressure most effectively relaxes muscles by lengthening the muscle fibers (the level of the pressure will also decrease during the process), releases deeply held patterns of tension, and increases the flow of blood which helps to remove toxins in the tissue. It is imperative to drink lots of water after a massage: This flushes the toxins out of the body and helps to eliminate that source of the pain.
Deep Tissue massage requires good communication between the MT and the client. The MT should be checking often with the client on the pain/pressure level, to ensure not exceeding the 7 level. A good MT will also be aware of the client's body language in determining pain/pressure level: a twitch, a jerk, holding the breath, tensing of surrounding muscle groups are all signs that the pressure is too much. But, it is also incumbent upon the client to let the MT know immediately if the pressure reaches and especially exceeds a 7. This two-way communication on pressure helps to ensure that the MT gives the client the best massage possible with the least amount of discomfort from massage-induced pain.
It is also important to understand that the level of pressure felt is relative to the client. Everybody has different tolerance of pain/pressure. What is a 5 to one person could a 3 to another and a 7 to a third person. Also, with the MT exerting the same amount of pressure to different body parts or muscles on the same client can be perceived at different pain/pressure levels. Whether the MT's touch is considered pleasurable or painful depends on multiple factors: Amount of tension in the tissues; condition of the muscles (healthy or injured); client's perception of the touch, ability to relax and accept deeper pressure, confidence in the MT.
What Results (Benefits) Can I Expect From a Deep Tissue Massage?
As I stated earlier, the muscles will relax, releasing toxins, and the soreness and tension will be decreased, and hopefully gone. (The improvement in pain will depend upon how long the muscles have been tight, sore and achy. The longer the condition has existed, the more likely it is that multiple massage sessions will be needed for total relief.) Where there has been postural distortion, posture will become more normal and balanced as the relaxed muscles permit the bones to return to their normal position. This results in improving structural and functional integrity for the client, including improved range of motion. Pain caused by inflammation (such as from arthritis and tendinitis) will be reduced.
Sometimes after the massage, the muscles hurt more before they get better. This is called a "healing crisis." Muscles that have been neglected for some time can respond with varying amounts of pain. Sometimes it may take a day or two for these muscles to react to the massage. Then the pain will decrease and the client should feel better.
Sources:
1. Everything You Want to Know About Massage, About Massage.com, http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=pryej4bab.0.0.hcxxg5bab.0&ts=S0240&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutmassage.com%2Ftechniques.htm&id=preview
2. Deep Tissue Massage and Therapy: Getting to the Root of the Problem, Amy Mullen, http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=pryej4bab.0.0.hcxxg5bab.0&ts=S0240&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.associatedcontent.com%2Farticle%2F20229%2Fdeep_tissue_massage_and_therapy.html&id=preview
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