What is Deep Tissue Massage and How Does it Help You?

Todd Herbst • December 3, 2021

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How Does a Deep Tissue Massage Help You?

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy is a type of bodywork that uses different techniques to loosen and relax deep layers of muscle and connective tissue. It can relieve pain through the activation of certain trigger points. While the best massage therapy can help people to experience the profound healing benefits of whole-body relaxation, deep tissue massage is one of the most effective means in achieving this feat!

The Different Types of Deep Tissue Massage Therapy 


Deep tissue massage therapy is a form of therapeutic massage that focuses on aligning deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. Deep tissue massage is designed to release chronic patterns of tension in the body. It helps relieve pain, restore range of motion, increase flexibility, and boost the immune system. 

Deep tissue massage is often confused with sports massage which concentrates on relieving muscle tension and encouraging blood flow to the muscles by using slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas while stretching muscles and tendons. 

Deep tissue massage is a very specific type of massage therapy that targets muscle knots (also called "adhesions" or "trigger points") and connected tissue such as tendons, ligaments, joints, and fascia. The therapist uses slow strokes that can be quite firm; in fact, deep tissue therapists may use elbow leverage with the strokes to really break up adhesions. 

The techniques used in deep tissue massage are not exclusive to any one particular school of bodywork - they are freely borrowed from other modalities - but all have been modified to suit deep tissue work. For example, you might have your back worked on with long gliding strokes rather than short kneading strokes like you would have for Swedish massage. Some bodyworkers, including myself, use cupping to help the healing process.

Deep Tissue Massage Treatment 

Deep tissue massage is often preferred over regular massage because it targets the deeper layers of muscle tissue. This type of massage therapy can be very effective when it comes to relieving chronic pain and stress in the body. 

Treatment is normally given to clients on a mat or a flat table. If a client chooses to lie face down, this should only be done with a soft pillow placed under the head. Treatment can be painful and uncomfortable for first-time clients, so it is important for them to relax and breathe normally during the session. Treatment focuses on trigger point manipulation and pressure along the fascial lines (the lines between muscles) as well as applying deep pressure on the myofascial or connective tissue. The therapist moves along these lines to increase blood flow and circulation, which can help alleviate soreness. 

There are several styles including: 

  • Dry technique, where you do the work yourself (with a therapist’s guidance)
  • Soft tissue mobilization, in which you work with your own tissues
  • Swedish-style massage with deep pressure
  • Myofascial release, which focuses on the connective tissue

Deep tissue massage treatment is not intended for use as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not replace advice from your healthcare professional.

What can deep tissue massage therapy do for you? 

Deep tissue massage therapy is used to treat chronic pain, muscle tension and other soft tissue disorders. The therapist may use his or her hands, forearms, elbows, knees and feet to apply pressure on specific regions of the body. 

Treatment is used for many different types of pain, including: 

  • Muscle spasms
  • Nerve pain
  • Back pain
  • Headaches
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Tennis elbow/Golfer's elbow
  • Sciatica (pain from the spine that travels down the back of the leg)

Where to integrate deep tissue massage in your life.

There's a reason why deep tissue massage is the best choice for athletes and people who are suffering from chronic pain. Deep tissue massage therapy is designed to target the deeper layers of muscles, connective tissue and fascia in order to relieve tension and stress in the body. 

Explaining deep tissue massage therapy to someone who has never had it done before can be difficult. It's not like Swedish massage, which focuses on the superficial layers of muscle. Deep tissue massage massages the muscles more deeply than that, so it's not unusual for someone to feel sore after a session. 

Deep tissue massage is also different from sports and therapeutic massages because it can be uncomfortable at times. The pressure applied by the therapist isn't there just for relaxation — it's intended to break up the tightness in your muscles that causes pain, tension and stress. Deep tissue massage isn't just about relaxation — it's about releasing muscle tension, too. 

The primary benefit of deep tissue massage therapy is that it provides relief from chronic pain as well as muscle spasms and tension. If you have any type of muscle-related injury or are dealing with chronic back pain, this type of massage therapy can help you feel relief faster than traditional massages or Swedish massage.

Benefits of a deep tissue massage and what to expect in a session?

Deep tissue massages are most beneficial for people who have chronically tight muscles. This is because deep tissue massages focus on the deeper layers of muscles, rather than just the superficial layers like Swedish massages do. 

If you have chronic muscle pain, it may mean that there is tension in the deeper layers of your muscles and fascia. A deep tissue massage can help to relieve that tension and trigger the release of endorphins which will help to reduce any inflammation you may be experiencing. A good deep tissue massage will also break up scar tissue and adhesions that may be contributing to chronic pain or discomfort. 

The benefits of receiving regular deep tissue massages are many. People who regularly receive massages find that they sleep better, have increased energy levels, increased flexibility and improved mental clarity. In addition, it keeps your muscles flexible and helps prevent injuries.

If this sounds like something that would benefit you book your session today!

Billy Kelley is one of the best massage therapists in the Dallas Fort Worth area. His office in the Salons of Volterra in McKinney is easy to get to from anywhere in DFW. But more than that some of his clients drive hours just to experience a massage like they've never had before.

Book your session through the Quantum Medical Massage and Hypnosis booking site. It's quick and easy to do! Your mind and body will love you for it!


Book your medical - deep tissue or other massages, hypnosis, or meditation here.



PS: My deep tissue massage is called the Medical Massage.

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