Deep Tissue Massage - What it is and how people perceive it
There is nothing better than a good massage with the 'right' pressure - not too deep and not too light, in the 'right' parts of the body - areas of tension and blockage, and for the 'right' duration - just enough to relax and leave.
Deep Tissue Massage contains special manipulations and massage techniques that relax and release myofascial tissues of the body (muscles, tendons, connective tissue) returning them to their normal state. It addresses all body tissues, superficial and deep. There is no exact definition for Deep Tissue massage, nor any specific sequence of movements (protocol), as with some other types of massage. "Deep Tissue" is more of a "marketing" term, designed to appeal to those who have chronic muscle problems or desire a deep massage. But working deeply is different from working hard or hard. Deep Tissue massage is not based on strength, but on the correct technique with precision, knowledge of anatomy, as well as the experience and sensitivity of the therapist.
The misconception that most people have about Deep Tissue massage is that in order to have a great therapeutic effect, the therapist must apply a lot of pressure. This is wrong - in fact, it is as naive as assuming that for music to be effective, it must be loud (although sometimes we need some relative volume in the music to enjoy it) - Muscle relaxation is not in largely a result of muscle strain. It is a result of the nervous system interrupting the messages to the muscles to tense and tighten. – AMTA – Massage Therapy Journal
Neuroscience tells us that pain is a product of the brain. Similarly, we can assume that relaxation and pleasure are products of the brain, although we may "feel" them in the affected organs, muscles, and other tissues. The art of massage involves being able to find that "fine line" between maintaining the pleasant feeling of a massage and finding and removing pain and discomfort from certain areas. Sometimes these areas are few, and sometimes they are everywhere. It can be on the surface or it can be very deep.
• Massage that hurts "so sweet"
Massage is art and science, it is not measured by weight or size. How much pressure will be needed to be effective and pleasing to the receiver is different for everyone. It depends on their body type, medical history, but even on what the client himself thinks will help him. That is why it is good to inform clients about how the techniques we use work and generally about the benefits of massage.
A client may say that massage pressure is good, but their body may indicate otherwise. Be sure to assess non-verbal communication signs which include twitching, grimacing, breath holding, changes in facial expression and guarding. It is the therapist's responsibility to ensure that massage techniques are safe and effective, regardless of whether the client feels able to handle it.
• Therapeutic massage - versus "relaxing" Swedish Massage.
Many clients and therapists assume that a massage is either relaxing or therapeutic, and that these are mutually exclusive goals. This is a misconception, as relaxation can be one of the most profound therapeutic benefits of massage. Calming the nervous system is very healing and allows the body to rejuvenate as well as relieve tension patterns internally.
Any activity that relaxes the mind will relax the body. This is why yoga, qi kung, tai chi and any other means of relaxation benefit the body. As nervous tension is released, all other tissues are released and respond positively to health. Massage can be one of many methods to relax the body.
Although the definition of "Massage" is: "manipulation of soft tissues", that is not essentially what we do. “Soft tissue is no longer the focus of our treatment, just as the cell phone is no longer the focus or content of our conversation. Instead, soft tissues are the means of communication through which we can communicate with the nervous system. If one is open to these terms, one could say that we are using the client's body to communicate with their energy.” - The Deep Massage Book: How to Combine Structure and Energy
Milton Trager said, "You must tap into the client's subconscious if you want to achieve long-term change." Science is catching up with Trager, Fritz Smith and other visionaries who knew consciously or intuitively that soft tissue manipulation is not the essence of our work. Communication is the key to health. Body Massage that is not aimed at the mind may not be very effective!
“Let's be aware of the negative consequences of many therapists' and clients' perceptions of Deep Tissue massage. They demand that we put more pressure for more benefit. When we look at soft tissue as a means of communication, more pressure can be seen as the equivalent of shouting on our cell phone. "I TOLD YOU RELAX!!!". Find new ways to communicate with the nervous system. Our brains and bodies appreciate and respond to gentle attention and care.” – David Laudersteign
Massage is a form of non-verbal communication. Every time you put pressure on a body you send messages to the brain. The question is how does it interpret these messages?
When you massage they often say until you touched me there I didn't know I was in pain. Other times they respond with an AHHHHHH.
What do we do for our customers? We help them become more aware of their bodies.
The "No pain no gain" mentality
The general public, our clients, and even professional therapists, have a 'no pain no gain' mentality.
There are clients who, before we have time to spread the oil well, tell you: "You can put more power. I'm not in pain!". As if the question is the pain...
Pain is our body's natural defense mechanism. If we cause more pain than the recipient's body can tolerate, their nervous system will react negatively. It is the so-called "fight or flight reaction" (fight or flight). The massage is designed to cause the exact opposite reaction of the Nervous System, the so-called "rest and digest". The beneficial properties of the massage mainly arise from this reaction, as the Parasympathetic System is activated, which also self-heals our body.
• Why some clients want to "hurt" in massage.
Some clients really believe in the "no pain no gain" mentality of massage, meaning that a massage is only effective if it causes pain. When pain is induced, the pituitary gland sends endorphin and enkephalin chemicals to the area we pressed. These chemicals make an area feel better, so some clients may initially enjoy the painful pressure.
The effects of pain-relieving chemicals can last a long time in some people (if the tissues are not injured). But, clients don't realize that the pain response also triggers a guarding pattern in the body that holds unnecessary pressure in other areas as well. This is a classic example of short-term gain, long-term loss that reduces the therapeutic effects of the massage overall for this client. It is imperative that the therapist help these clients see the potential harm in receiving painful massage. As healers, Hippocrates' "Do no harm" must always be remembered as our duty. Our work is intended to create ease, balance and well-being, not to disrupt or injure the body.
Another reason some clients insist on asking for a very strong massage may be because of a previous bad experience with massage, perhaps they have experienced an ineffective Swedish Massage (relaxation massage) that was too light or not anatomically accurate. The fact is, however, what is needed - whether we work lightly or deeply - is proper technique, planning, more sensitivity, more anatomical clarity, and therefore generally less force.
What are the negatives of unnecessary pressure?
Therapists injure themselves trying to satisfy clients' demand for as much pressure as possible.
- The emphasis on the wrong Deep Tissue massage undermines the health and longevity of the therapists. They cannot sustain this level of pressure for 20 to 40 sessions per week without becoming physically, mentally or emotionally exhausted.
-Some clients end up with bruises or even injured tissue due to the excessive pressure.
Advice to customers:
Relax! Let go as much as you can and allow the therapist to do the best they can with their knowledge and intuition. The therapist can give his best when he feels that he is trusted in his work.
With you relaxed, from the inside out, and the therapist working intelligently with the right pressure, movement and intention, the healing effect will be deeper and longer lasting.
Of course the therapist should always be informed in case you feel any discomfort or pain as well as if there is any medical problem.
Tips for therapists:
"Skillful manipulations with precision are necessary and much more effective than applying forceful pressure to the tissues without a clear intention"
Some Massage Therapists consider Deep Tissue massage to be simply Swedish - Relaxation massage applied with more pressure or with elbows and whoever gets the chance.
The truth is that elbows should be used sparingly and we should listen to our customers. I've worked with people who never wanted to massage again because some clumsy therapists didn't realize they were applying too much pressure in the massage or didn't listen when the client told them it hurt.
The most important piece of information to understand and promote is that the change in tension levels in the body is caused by changes in the nervous system, not changes in the soft tissues - “Fascial Plasticity—Robert Schleip. (Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapists)
The misconception, however, is that muscles relax more with more pressure.
The truth is that muscles relax more when the nervous system tells them to.
Now, this involves respectfully responding to the client's conscious expectations about pressure - It also involves the therapist's level of knowledge and skill to educate the person both verbally and non-verbally through touch, that the release of tension from the inside out it is more effective and longer lasting than the therapist working from the outside with too much pressure, trying to overcome the tension with pressure
The more we work with precision and clear intention, the less we will need to replace skill with force.
Ultimately, it is the therapist's professional responsibility to communicate with clients in order to clarify the meaning of the term Deep Tissue and address any misunderstandings. Understanding how Deep Tissue massage benefits the client is essential. What are their expectations? What benefits does the client anticipate or perceive from this massage?
In any case, and despite efforts to educate, we must "meet the client halfway," meaning aligning with what they believe is good for themselves and what we, as experts, believe. This can be beneficial to the therapeutic relationship we aim to build. The most important thing is for the client to feel comfortable, safe, and confident when we offer our services. – Walt Fritz, PT.
For Employers:
The best treatment is personalized for the client, and the best sessions often include a variety of techniques and different therapeutic methods.
Rigid service menus are unfair to the individuality of clients.
Do not adhere strictly to stereotypical menus and encourage massage therapists to respond creatively to each client’s unique needs.
The purpose of this article is to inform the public about what happens in our bodies when we receive a massage – Massage does not need to be painful to be effective, as the reason we typically seek massage is to relieve pain.
Massage is truly a divine gift because, although it is one of the most effective therapies for pain and stress, it also feels so wonderful and fills us with energy and health.
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