HS Sports Therapy - Remedial Massage Therapist

Deep Tissue Massage Explained

It is beneficial for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders.
The Pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain releasing troublesome areas.

The Technical Part

When chronic muscle tension or injury exists, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation.

With no blood getting to heal these adhesions, they will grow and shorten the functioning part of the muscle, forcing the undamaged part to stretch to compensate, hence, weakening the muscle.
Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct deep pressure (trigger point therapy) or friction applied across the grain of the muscles.

Scar tissue, can also weaken the muscle. The scar tissue forms as a raised lump on the healed area, without friction to break down the excess scar tissue, there is more chance of the muscle re-damaging/tearing. Once the scar tissue has been broken down level to the muscle, this strengthens the once damaged fibre and ensuring less chance of it re-tearing.