A Brief Guide About Deep Tissue Massage

Do you work out on a daily basis? If yes, have you ever paid attention to getting a deep tissue massage? If not, you are depriving your body of everything good. If you work out four or more times in a week, you should be incorporating a deep tissue massage every two weeks. Or else both your muscles and workouts are going to suffer.

Deep tissue massage takes longer than regular massage. It is a treatment that focuses on the deeper layers of muscles and surrounding connective tissue so that different conditions and pains can be relieved.

For those who have never gotten a deep tissue massage before, it might be a different experience. Deep tissue massage helps in breaking up scar tissue that forms after an accident/injury. It also helps to reduce muscle tension.

Steps of Deep Tissue Massage

Here are the four main steps of a deep tissue massage:

• Discussion: First of all, you should talk with your therapist about what you wish from this massage. You have to sign an ‘Informed Consent’ form as well, a legal requirement.
• Preparation of Muscles: In this step, the therapist shall warm up your muscles by applying oil and light pressure on the areas they are going to be focusing on.
• Stripping: Your therapist uses his elbows, forearms, thumbs, and knuckles. The fibers of your muscle shall feel a gliding pressure.
• Friction: In this phase, the grain of your muscles is focused. The pressure is applied to them to realign the tissue fibers and release any adhesions that lead to discomfort. Adhesions are the areas having rigid tissues.

Deep tissue massage breaks up adhesions, scar tissue, and muscle tension that often lie deep. For that, the therapist shall apply good pressure. You would be stiff and sore for some days.

You will have to breathe deeply when your therapist is working on the deep, tense areas of the muscles.

Deep Tissue Massage – Things to Do

Having established what a deep tissue massage is, here are a few tips for you to get the most out of this treatment:

Stay Relaxed

It is understandable to become nervous once you know that the deep tissue massage might cause some pain. The soreness followed by a massage is temporary and it works in alleviating longer term discomfort. When it comes to deep tissue massages, they are particularly helpful in reducing chronic pain. If you get tensed up, it will make it difficult for the therapist to work. So, staying relaxed is very important.

Hydrate

Massage assists blood circulation and the body’s lymphatic system. This involves providing muscles with oxygen and important nutrients. They help with cleansing cells of toxins. To do all this, your blood needs water. After a massage, you may feel the need to pee more than usual. This is good as the body is cleansing itself of toxins.

However, see that you stay hydrated to prevent dehydration. Drinking a few extra glasses of water ensures that the advantages of deep tissue massages last for long.

Icing or Heat Pad

You can ice the areas that got the most pressure. Icing helps with reducing pain and swelling. You can use a heating pad wrapped in a towel as well.

Deep Tissue Massage – Side Effects

Apart from some lingering stiffness and soreness, there are no side effects of a deep tissue massage. Since deep tissue massage involves a firm pressure, it might not be ideal for everyone. You should talk to your doctor if you have these issues before getting a massage:

If you are suffering from a bleeding or clotting disorder, use blood thinners. Also, anyone with cancer that has affected bones or osteoporosis should avoid it as the firm pressure could lead to fracture.

To sum it up, schedule an appointment with the best physiotherapy in Dubai to get a relaxing and soothing deep tissue massage.