Deep Tissue Massage Tulsa is an advanced therapeutic technique focused on manipulating the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It can alleviate chronic patterns of tension and promote overall wellness.
Expect some discomfort during and after the massage, which should subside within a day or two. This is normal and is due to the increased blood flow and release of toxins.
Using firm pressure and slow strokes with hands, fingers, and elbows, deep tissue massage works deeper layers of muscle and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles). It’s often used for chronic aches and pain or contracted areas like a stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness, or sore shoulders. The therapist manipulates the muscle and fascia to release adhesions and restore normal movement and flexibility. The increased blood flow stimulated by the massage can reduce inflammation and help speed recovery from injury.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
The body’s natural production of feel-good hormones during a massage, such as dopamine and serotonin, can relieve stress and anxiety. As the nervous system calms, the heart rate and breathing slow down, which can lead to a reduction in blood pressure.
Treats Headaches
A deep tissue massage can reduce tension in the muscles of the head and neck, which can cause headaches. It also improves circulation, which can help reduce swelling and relieve pain from chronic headaches.
Breaks Up Scar Tissue
Whether the scar is from surgery, an injury, or even pregnancy, it can create tension and limit motion. The kneading and stretching in a deep tissue massage can help break up the fibrous bands of scar tissue, which can then release the tension and allow the tissues to move more freely.
Increases Flexibility
The stretches and range-of-motion exercises in a deep tissue massage can improve the flexibility of muscles and joints in the affected area, which can help decrease pain and stiffness and improve mobility. It can also help prevent injuries by increasing flexibility, preventing the tightening of muscles and the formation of adhesions.
Enhances Athletic Performance
Athletes can benefit from a deep tissue massage by improving their range of motion and flexibility, which can decrease the risk of injury. It can also help boost performance by decreasing muscle fatigue and promoting the removal of toxins from the muscles.
Anyone who wants to reap the benefits of a deep tissue massage should consult with a licensed massage therapist first and discuss whether the technique is right for them. It’s important to be honest with the therapist about any discomfort or pain, and they should adjust their techniques accordingly. Ideally, deep tissue massage shouldn’t be done over bruises, inflamed or infected skin, unhealed or open wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, fragile bones, or areas that have recently been fractured. It’s also recommended to drink plenty of water before and after a session to support the movement of toxins out of the body.
Techniques
Deep Tissue Massage is an advanced technique that manipulates deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It uses slower strokes with more direct pressure on tense areas to break up adhesions (areas of scar tissue or tightly woven muscles) and alleviate chronic patterns of tension. Often used in conjunction with other techniques like myofascial release, deep tissue can be the most therapeutic of all massage styles.
A qualified therapist will spend 5 – 10 minutes warming up the muscles before applying more intense pressure for deeper tissue work. As it is more of a forceful treatment, many people experience discomfort at some point during the session. This is normal and a good indication that the therapist is working effectively to relieve the tightness in the muscles. During the treatment, it is important to communicate with your therapist and let them know if the massage is too painful. Continuing the treatment in pain can cause the client to tighten up which negates the therapeutic benefits of the massage.
During the session, your therapist will apply direct pressure to specific muscle groups, using their fingers, thumbs or elbows to break up adhesions and alleviate knots. Friction techniques are also used which involve moving the therapist’s hand across muscle fibers to stretch them and improve range of motion. Other techniques may include kneading, gliding, circular friction, joint mobilization and stretching.
In addition to improving range of motion, deep tissue massage has been known to help relieve muscle soreness, decrease stiffness and increase flexibility. It can also help control pain from chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis and sciatica. It can aid digestion and improve breathing, relieve tension in the head and neck, and reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
While this is a powerful treatment that can benefit just about anyone, it’s best not to receive this type of massage before speaking with your doctor. This is especially important for individuals who have blood clots or are at risk for forming them, as it’s possible the massage could dislodge a clot and cause serious problems. This also applies to anyone with open wounds, unhealed skin rashes or fractured bones.
Contraindications
There are some situations in which a deep tissue massage would be inappropriate, or potentially dangerous for the client. These are known as contraindications, and are designed to protect the health and safety of both client and practitioner.
These include: Open wounds (cuts, grazes and lacerations) that have not healed properly. These can irritate the skin and lead to infection, which could be worsened by vigorous massage. Partial tendon ruptures – massaging a muscle or tendon that has completely ruptured will not only hurt, but it may cause further damage and lead to Myositis Ossificans (bone growth within the muscles). Blood Clots – Massage increases circulation, which can dislodge a clot from a vein, potentially causing serious complications in the heart, lungs or brain. Massage should be avoided in areas of a blood clot, until a doctor has said it is safe.
Pregnancy – Some types of prenatal massage are contraindicated in the first trimester due to concerns that it can trigger a miscarriage. With a doctor’s approval, however, it is possible for pregnant women to benefit from light to moderate massages.
Certain Health Conditions – Any condition that affects the cardiovascular system, such as hypertension, arrhythmia or high blood pressure should be disclosed to the therapist prior to treatment. It is also important for the therapist to know whether the client is taking medication or has recently taken drugs or alcohol, as these can alter their blood pressure or heart rate.
Massage can be a valuable tool in treating the effects of an illness, but it is important for the therapist to be aware of and understand these potential contraindications. It is a good idea to make notes on each client’s medical history, and many massage software systems or apps have a space where this can be entered for future reference. This information should also be reviewed by a medical professional before each session. These notes can help the therapist assess whether the treatment will be beneficial, or potentially harmful to the client. This is especially important when dealing with clients who are elderly, or have a significant health issue.
Precautions
Deep tissue massage uses slow and sustained pressure to break up muscle and connective tissue adhesions, knots, and scar tissue. It can be uncomfortable but should never be unbearably painful. It may cause some soreness after the session, but this should resolve within a couple days. The therapist should regularly communicate with the client to ensure that the pressure is comfortable and may decrease or increase pressure as needed. Drinking plenty of water is recommended after the massage to help flush out toxins that are released during the treatment.
A contraindication is a condition that increases the risk of harm from massage or makes it inadvisable to proceed as planned. Contraindications are usually found on a client’s health history form, and the therapist should discuss these with the client in a private treatment room before proceeding. A contraindication is a more serious limitation on a person’s ability to receive massage than an area of caution.
An area of caution is an area on the body that should be avoided or treated very carefully due to a high risk of injury or damage, such as a nerve, artery, vein, lymph node or fragile bone. An area of caution is not as severe as a contraindication, and an experienced therapist should be able to work around it with careful planning and consideration for the other structures on the body.
Massage can also have side effects, which range from acceptable and common, such as bruising or soreness, to unacceptable and potentially harmful, such as burns on the skin or dislodging of a blood clot or fracturing of a bone. These longer lasting side effects are called adverse events and should be documented using an incident report. Educating yourself about the benefits and precautions of deep tissue massage will allow you to use this powerful treatment with confidence. A good start is to review your massage training and familiarize yourself with the common contraindications, area of cautions and adverse events. Then you can determine if a deeper level of massage is appropriate for your clients. Then you can apply effective and safe techniques to help your clients achieve their therapeutic goals.