THE BENEFITS OF DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE - Is It for Muscle Recovery Only?

If you want to improve your posture or increase flexibility, these massages can do wonders. And when it comes to mental stress relief, deep tissue massages are an excellent and perfectly fine alternative to a lovely glass of wine and a lot of introspection.

What is deep tissue massage?

Similar to Swedish massage, but it uses a deeper and more intense pressure and helps to relieve muscle tension. Its benefits are known to significantly improve the condition of many different body parts.

Many therapists consider deep tissue massage one of their most valuable tools. It can greatly improve the quality of life for people with chronic muscle pain.

Although the technique has been around since ancient times, it was only in the early 1970's that many people began to use it regularly. It's an easy way to relax, so it's popular with individuals that have some type of physical or mental stress.

While it is beneficial, therapists do not recommend performing this therapy on infants, children, or people who are pregnant.

What are the benefits you can expect from deep tissue massage?

Deep Tissue Massages Can Help With Pain and Injury

If you are someone suffering from back pain or a recurring muscle strain or injury, regular deep tissue massages can help you feel better and recover faster. It can be performed by a therapist or a device such as a quality handheld massager at home.

A massage might also help you deal with other types of chronic pain, such as migraines, headaches, or arthritis. These painful conditions are often caused by accumulated tension and muscle stiffness, restricted blood flow, inflexibility and stress. Deep tissue massages address all of these problem areas.

Some of the conditions deep tissue massage can improve include:

It Improves Your Fitness Levels

According to studies, as massage works to loosen up tight muscles in your back and neck, it improves your body’s ability to handle daily activities and exercises. This is great news for those of us who have tried every diet known to man and been unsuccessful in losing weight.

How is that related, you might ask? It’s because one of the most important factors of weight loss is the amount of calories you burn during your normal daily activities (NEAT).

Another study suggests that deep tissue massage can be as effective as exercise at burning calories.

It Helps You Deal With Stress

One of the main benefits of a thorough massage is that it reduces the level of cortisol, our main stress hormone. At the same time, it can boost the amount of oxytocin, which is one the three kind of “happiness” hormones our body produces. For a compounding effect, during the session your whole body relaxes, eliminating one of the main sources of stress to begin with.

Improves Your Immune System

It is well known that massages will make your immune system stronger, but the benefits are not just for the immune system. (2) Studies show that a deep tissue massage has a long list of benefits that go on to help you fight inflammation and diseases and help your body stay healthier.

It Strengthens the Mind

The benefits of a deep tissue massage don’t end with the body. Studies show that there is a significant benefit to the mental health, as well. After the massage, patients are reported to have greater awareness of brain activity and more insight into the body.

Deep Tissue Massages Can Help You Avoid Back and Neck Injuries

As I mentioned before, the deep tissue massage helps relax the body and allow you to experience better muscle recovery. You also get additional health benefits, such as increased mobility, strength, and flexibility, all of which contribute to better resistance against future injuries.

It Can Help You Gain More Muscle

If you want to look stronger and leaner, a regular deep tissue massage can help you. After a massage, you may notice muscle recovery much faster. Many people notice that they are able to lift more weight and feel less sore.

It Can Improve Joint Mobility

Massages can help you recover and gain mobility. For example, in addition to muscle knots, you may have joint pain or stiffness as well, but after a deep tissue massage you may notice that your joints don’t feel tight anymore.

It Can Help You Breathe Easier 

When you are relaxed, it makes it easier to breathe. So, if you have back pain or frequent migraines, a deep tissue massage can help you breathe easier.

FAQ 

What does a deep tissue massage do for your body? 

Studies have found that deep tissue massages can improve your blood flow and can help you to fight chronic pain. (3) It's also great for your bodyweight management and circulation.

It's popularly known as a relaxing treatment as it works to relieve your muscle tension and get your blood flowing, releasing endorphins and boosting your mood.

How often should you get a deep tissue massage? 

The optimal frequency of deep tissue massage sessions depends on your condition and whether you are a professional athlete or someone with a chronic pain condition. In all cases, you should consult your licensed massage therapist for his/her recommendation.

For a layperson, once a month is a good base frequency for a deep tissue massage therapy session. For a competitive athlete this might go up to several times a week during treatment of an acute muscle injury.

Is deep tissue massage painful? 

It is commonly believed that a deep tissue massage is a painful experience, however, this does not need to be the case. The amount of pain you feel during the session depends on the therapist, your condition, and how relaxed can you be during the treatment.

This is yet another reason to book a trained massage practitioner for this type of massage. An experienced masseur/masseuse will be able to judge the amount of pressure needed to relieve affected muscles and tissues and adjust the strokes accordingly.

With that said, you should expect some amount of discomfort at times as the therapist has to ease the accumulated tension in your muscles.