The world of massages comes in all shapes and sizes β from gentle and relaxing to intense and sometimes even painful. One of the most questionably aggressive types is deep tissue massage. While deep tissue massage can be intense, there are important things to keep in mind about what it feels like and why it can be a valuable tool to soothe sore muscles.
Deep tissue massage therapy aims to reach the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues, making it a great way to alleviate pain and tension in specific areas such as the shoulders, upper back, lower back, and legs. To achieve this deeper pressure, the therapist may use knuckles, and elbows, and even apply their entire body weight as opposed to simply their hands. This can cause temporary discomfort in the form of pain or pressure. When it comes to deep tissue massage, technique, and pressure levels are vital.
Applying too much pressure can certainly cause discomfort during the massage and can result in muscle bruising or even serious injury after the therapy. Thankfully, a trained therapist will know the importance of working with gradually increasing pressure to reach the desired depth, allowing your body to adapt to the sensation without causing harm.
The pressure applied during the massage can cause some inflammation or discomfort, which will improve after a short while as the body naturally heals itself, allowing the tension to release fully. Consistent deep tissue massage takes time for the body to adapt to and understand the release of tension, therefore it requires frequent massages to get the desired results.
Your therapist will always communicate with you about post-massage care, which often includes ice, stretching, or heat therapy to help the body feel at ease following the session.
