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More Pressure Please:  Deep Tissue vs. Deep Pressure Massage

1/21/2015

 
Deep Tissue Massage
I frequently get asked if I do deep tissue massage.  The answer that I generally give is that I do deep tissue massage, but it may feel different than other deep tissue they have experienced.  I don't believe that massage should hurt.  Sometimes there are sore or tender spots, but there is a difference between tenderness and pain.  Many people have that "no pain, no gain" mentality and believe that the more pain they are in after a massage, the better the massage was.  This simply isn't true.  

When I first started working as a massage therapist, I was working in spas.  It wasn't long before I started getting assigned deep tissue massages.  Not knowing much about deep tissue, I asked my colleagues, who told me that it is the same thing, you just press harder, so that is what I did.  Unfortunately, therapists who do this kind of deep pressure massage, knowingly or not, only perpetuate the idea that massage should be painful.  In this blog post, we will take a look at what a deep tissue massage is and what a deep pressure massage is and how they differ.

Deep Pressure Massage

When you go in for a deep tissue massage and the therapist just seems to be beating you up or really digging into you, that is actually a deep pressure massage.  Human tissue just doesn't respond well to this kind of massage.  Basically, the more you push, the more the tissue pushes back, so when a therapist works harder, they are actually less deep in the tissue and doing less productive work.  This type of massage is more likely to leave you feeling pain and soreness, which is your body reacting negatively.  It is normal to feel some soreness after a massage, but to be in pain or hardly able to move is not a healthy response to body work.  Some modalities will leave you feeling more sore than others, but none of them should leave you in pain.

Deep pressure massage is also very hard on the therapist.  Therapists who do this kind of massage tend to have shorter careers because they develop injuries or weakness from pushing on people all day long.  Therapists who do deep tissue massage are not as likely to have a high burnout rate as those who do deep pressure massage.   

Deep Tissue Massage

So, if deep tissue massage isn't just pressing harder, what is the difference?  Deep tissue massage simply means that the work the therapist does gets deeper into the muscles and other structures in the body.  The best way to do this is to work slowly.  When a therapist applies firm, steady pressure without pushing, the tissue in the clients body starts to melt and soften.  Once the tissue has softened sufficiently, the therapist can begin to work deeper into the body to access the deeper structures.

Therapists who do deep tissue massage tend to have longer careers and lower burnout rates because instead of trying to force our way into someone's tissue, we work with the body, and let the tissue dictate how we work.  Not pressing and digging into someone also puts a lot less stress on our bodies.  We are less likely to develop injuries and will tend to be stronger for longer amounts of time.

Deep tissue massage should feel good and there should be minimal pain.  A lot of clients have trouble telling the difference between regular massage and deep tissue work.  

Conclusion

Massage shouldn't hurt.  It is important to recognize the difference between soreness and tenderness, and pain.  Pain is a response from your body telling you that something is wrong.  If your massage therapist is causing you pain, tell them.  Please be kind to yourself and your massage therapist by not asking for a deep pressure massage.  Your body will thank you.
sonya wells
11/4/2017 10:26:18 am

Thank you for this post. As?an lmt I'd about given up and looking into diff career options. Thanks so much!

Amanda link
11/4/2017 09:59:11 pm

Hi Sonya. So glad that you found this post helpful. Many of us fall into bad habits based on incorrect information. It can be a bit difficult to change the way you work, but if you listen to the tissue and let it guide you in your work, you will find that the work is much easier on your body as the practitioner as well as on your clients. If you change your methods to a more mindful approach, some clients may push back, and you may lose a few people, but it is well worth it in the end. Make sure to let your clients know your reasoning for the change and many of them will be receptive to something new.

Burt Silver link
5/17/2018 09:55:02 am

It's interesting to hear what a deep tissue massage really is and it sounds really nice actually. My muscles are very sore from all of the working out that I have been doing lately. I think a massage like this could really help me to relax and feel better about myself overall.

Remco link
6/24/2018 02:41:40 am

I already commented on another Blog of yours. But once again, the message you put out is so important. As I am teaching Thai massage I am always talking about not to push within Thai massage, but to sink in to a body, not to force, but use the weight of the body. And to listen to the body of the client with your touch. And the moment your touch is soft, you are listening and using body weight, you can allow yourself to sink in. The more softer you are the more deeper you can go, the slower you go the deeper you can go. Again great post

Melissa link
6/30/2018 05:40:59 pm

Good blog Amanda! You are ABSOLUTELY correct! Deeper isn't always better! I get clients who say they want deep and when I do they say ok less pressure haha! They can't handle my deep! I wish the clients would allow us the massage therapist to do it our way! 😁

Bella Hardy link
7/6/2018 08:23:17 am

I prefer deep tissue massage! I appreciate your tip on how a deep tissue massage makes movement easier.

Robin Hamilton @ Wellness Wires link
9/20/2018 05:11:20 am

Deep tissue massage therapy can go down in the books as a healing art, but all art is healing on some level. What type of massage helps with muscle cramps or pain, if any?

bindalayurveda link
11/13/2018 04:45:31 am

Thanks for the amazing information. Was a great reading. and I appreciate the tips!!

Silas Knight link
3/29/2019 05:06:17 pm

It's good to know more about massages. I like how you said hat deep tissue massages aren't about pressing harder. My wife loves massages, so I'll have to remember this for her.

Angela Waterford link
5/5/2019 06:47:21 pm

Now I'm aware that deep tissue therapeutic massages are better for me because they get deeper into the muscles and other structures of the body such as the myofascia. I suppose that I should deep tissue massage appointment instead since there is minimal pain involved. I'm also concerned about my massage therapists' health so I'll be sure to get it since they tend to have lower burnout rates if I have this massage done.

Elisabeth Southgate link
9/3/2019 12:08:05 pm

I like you explanation of a deep tissue massage. I didn't know that it focuses on getting deeper in the the structures of the muscle. Thank you for helping me learn more about what a deep tissue massage is.

Angela Waterford link
9/20/2019 10:11:03 am

Some of the muscles on my back now feel stiff because I've been sitting too long in front of the computer all day, and I want to fix that. It's good to know that I'll get firm, steady pressure on my back with deep tissue massage therapy so that my muscles will relax. I think I'll visit a good massage clinic so I'll be sure that this will be painless for me.

Ron Booker link
10/17/2019 03:02:17 pm

I found it interesting that you said that tissue massages require to apply a heavy force because the tissue pushes back. My mom told me that she needs to go in for a massage because she is suffering from shoulder pain. I'm going to check with her if she would like to try a tissue massage.

Kavya link
1/14/2020 09:49:56 pm

Enjoyed reading the article above , really explains everything in detail,the article is very interesting and effective.Thank you and good luck for the upcoming articles.

Vivian Black link
2/19/2020 05:18:42 pm

I love that you talked about deep tissue massage and how the therapist isn't pressing harder, but getting a deeper massage into the muscles. My husband and I are looking for a deep tissue therapist that we can go to to help with our soreness and pain from our car accident. We will keep these tips in mind as we search for a professional that can help us best.

Chris Pederson link
5/20/2021 10:56:42 am

It's good to know that a deep tissue massage does not mean they are pressing harder but rather going deeper into your muscles. That could make a huge difference for me. My muscles are always sore and tense so maybe all I need is a deep tissue massage.

Jayden link
3/7/2022 08:16:26 pm

This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Thanks!


Comments are closed.
    Amanda Tarver, LMT, CEIM, PES, CD(DONA), RMT

    Meet the Author

    Amanda Tarver, (LMT, CEIM, PES, RMT) is a massage therapist and birth worker in the Chicago area.  She is dedicated to using a combination of bodywork and education to help people live a better quality of life.

    Amanda opened Women's Massage Therapy in 2011 and has enjoyed bringing quality services to people in Chicago's North Shore ever since.  In 2020, she debuted a series of virtual services to help bring those services to people around the globe.

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