Deep Tissue Massage

Massage therapy that concentrates on the deep layers of muscle and fascia

Deep tissue massage is a specific type of massage therapy that concentrates on the deep layers of muscle and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles).  By using deep finger pressure and slow, firm strokes, deep tissue massage is used to treat a variety of physical ailments.  It is used for chronic aches and pain and contracted areas such as a stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness and sore shoulders.

It is used to break up scar tissue and physically break down muscle “knots” or adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) that can disrupt circulation and cause pain, limited range of motion and inflammation.

What will the massage feel like?

At the beginning of the massage, lighter pressure is generally applied to warm up and prepare the muscles. Specific techniques are then applied.  The most common techniques include:

• deep, gliding pressure along the length of the muscle fibres using the elbow, forearm, knuckles, and thumbs
• pressure applied across the grain of a muscle to release adhesions and realign tissue fibres

What conditions can a deep tissue massage treat?

Deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as chronic muscle pain, injury rehabilitation but can also be used for the following conditions:

• Recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls)
• Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Muscle tension in the hamstrings, glutes, IT band, legs, quadriceps, rhomboids, upper back
• Osteoarthritis pain
• Sciatica
• Piriformis syndrome
• Tennis elbow /golfers elbow
• Fibromyalgia