Having a massage is a terrific way to get a relaxed feeling.
Having the trained hands of a professional masseuse work out the knots in your
muscles can also help reduce soreness and tension.
However, there seem to be a
thousand different styles of massage therapy, all claiming to have the best
results and benefits. All types of massage are good for making you feel
relaxed, getting rid of some stress, and working out the soreness or stiffness
of your muscles.
With any form of therapy, there are different schools of
thought, different techniques, and approaches available. Often the technique
used is down to the experience and skill set of the therapist and what they
deem is the most relevant treatment option. In this article, we will look at massage
therapy and in particular deep tissue or soft tissue.
What’s the difference and which is a better solution?
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage therapy is as you would imagine a type
of therapy that focuses on the deep layers of muscle in the body. It works by
using slow and firm massage strokes that concentrate the pressure a lot deeper
than classic massage therapy. It works by breaking down adhesions, increasing
the flow of blood, and helping to reduce inflammation.
Deep tissue massage is useful for painful and trouble spots
like a sore lower back, or lingering muscle injury. By gently probing your
muscles with their fingers, the therapist will seek out knots, fibrous
adhesions, or other key points. While this is not a forceful massage, the
therapist will sometimes use their knuckles and elbows, in addition to their
fingers and hands. As a patient, you want to feel relaxed and comfortable with
your therapist so you can give them feedback on what you are feeling.
It is particularly effective with those suffering from
chronic muscle injury and those who are seeking injury rehabilitation. It is a
popular technique with sports massage and can help improve performance.
Soft Tissue Massage
Soft tissue massage is a technique that as you will be able
to guess is less intrusive than deep tissue massage. Instead of focusing on
slow and pressured movements to affect the deep layers, soft tissue massage
focuses on working with a range of depths, pressures, and durations.
Soft tissue massage involves direct physical action on the
muscle and other soft tissues of your body. Soft tissue techniques such as massage
targets your muscles, tendons, ligaments, or other connective tissue such as
fascia. Massage is the best-known example of a soft tissue technique.
A soft tissue massage includes a whole range of massage
depths, pressures, and durations. Your remedial massage therapist is a
professional who understands what techniques are right for your body at any
given time. Your soft tissue massage aims to alleviate aches, pains, and
injuries that are attributed to your body’s soft tissues.
As a massage therapy, it will aim to work with your muscles,
tendons, and ligaments and will be very similar to the techniques used in deep
tissue massage.
It is a useful technique to help relax muscles, increase
endorphins, reduce muscle tension, and improve blood circulation.
Which is better?
There is little in the way of difference when it comes to
these two apart from the depths of the treatment. The techniques used are
similar but deep massage will tend to involve longer, slower, and higher
pressure strokes compared to a larger variety of strokes used in soft tissue.
Perhaps unsurprisingly the answer to the question above is not
that straightforward. Many therapists will also not just stick to one technique
or field of massage and will dip into other areas as and when they are needed.
The difference between the two is quite limited and there are similar benefits
from both.
When it comes to injury recovery deep tissue massage is
certainly the most effective type but on the other hand, it can also be quite
unnecessary if used at the wrong moment.
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