Rooted in ancient traditions, massage is a practice that has been used for healing and better health for eons. Deep tissue massage is one such therapeutic technique that reaches into the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. The practice is usually used to help alleviate chronic pain, improve mobility, and promote overall wellness.
Deep tissue massage, unlike other massage techniques, uses slower strokes and firmer pressure. Because of this, the benefits of deep tissue massage include getting relief from muscle tension, helping in the recovery of specific injuries, or even with postural problems.
Over the years, deep tissue massage has gained popularity for several reasons. Here, we will look at all the different benefits this massage technique holds and see what insights experts have for us.
What is deep tissue massage?
Deep tissue massage is a massage practice that helps realign deep muscles and connective tissue layers using slow, deliberate strokes and firm pressure. This helps target chronic muscle tension, knots, and helps reduce the pain usually caused by overuse, injury, or stress.
Compared to other massage techniques, deep tissue work is more intense and therapeutic, and when performed by a professional, helps target and heal chronic pain as well.
What are the long-term benefits of deep tissue massage?
Deep tissue massage has several long-term benefits. From helping reduce chronic pain and improving posture to increasing flexibility and bringing down stress levels, deep tissue massage can be very beneficial.
Reduces Muscle Tension and Stiffness
Deep tissue massage has major benefits when it comes to helping decrease muscle tension and stiffness. When it comes to muscle tension and stiffness, deep tissue massage:
- Breaks up muscle knots and helps restore natural muscle movement.
- Enhances blood flow to muscles, which further aids in their recovery and flexibility.
- Reduces inflammation and muscle tightness over time, which results in reduced stiffness.
Improves Posture
In a day and age where our everyday posture gets affected by the work we do around our laptops and our smartphones, deep tissue massage can be very beneficial. Deep tissue massage improves your posture by
- Releasing chronic muscle tension. This is what results in the body’s misalignment.
- Loosening tight fascia and muscles and allowing better structural balance.
- Improving body awareness and encouraging better habits to improve your posture in the long run.
Enhances Circulation
Another major benefit of deep tissue massage is its ability to help enhance blood circulation in the body. Deep tissue massage
- Stimulates blood flow to muscles and tissues, aiding nutrient and oxygen delivery.
- Promotes removal of metabolic waste and toxins because of the improved blood flow.
- With the enhanced oxygen and nutrient delivery, muscle healing and recovery also improved.
Aids Recovery from Injuries
One of the major reasons why deep tissue massage has become so popular is its ability to help aid recovery from Injuries. Deep tissue massage does this by
- Breaking down scar tissue and promoting tissue regeneration
- Reducing inflammation and muscle spasms to usher in the body’s natural healing abilities.
- Reducing muscle stiffness and improving blood circulation to the injured areas, promoting flexibility and range of motion in the injured areas.
Lowers Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
Deep tissue massage is also known to help with cardiovascular health to a great extent. This happens when
- Deep tissue massage helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, aiding in relaxation.
- The levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline come down because of the massage technique.
- Deep tissue massage, with its ability to enhance blood flow in the body, also improves blood vessel function, supporting cardiovascular health.
- A study done by the University of Illinois at Chicago also found that massage therapy improved vascular health in people regardless of their physical activity levels.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Apart from the physical benefits of deep tissue massage, it also has benefits for your mental well-being. Deep tissue massage
- Lowers the cortisol or the stress hormone levels in the body. It further boosts the levels of happy hormones like serotonin and dopamine.
- Promotes deep relaxation by calming the nervous system
- Helps improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety over time
- According to Dr. Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute, massage reduces physical tension, which has a direct calming effect on the nervous system.
Increases Range of Motion and Flexibility
By helping address muscle knots and reducing muscle stiffness, deep tissue massage also proves to be beneficial in helping increase range of motion and flexibility.
- The massage releases tight muscles in the body and fascia to improve joint mobility.
- The movement used in deep tissue massage helps enhance muscle elasticity and flexibility effectively.
Promotes Better Sleep
With reduced stress levels and an increase in the production of hormones like serotonin and dopamine, the body is also able to experience improved sleep patterns.
- Since deep tissue massage reduces stress and anxiety, it leads to more restful sleep.
- Serotonin, the hormone produced during the massage, is a precursor to melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone.
- Deep tissue massage also relieves physical discomfort to a great extent, which could interfere with sleep quality.
Alleviates Inflammation
Deep tissue massage has proven to be very beneficial in kickstarting the body’s natural healing response. One of the many reasons for this is its ability to reduce inflammation in the body.
- The massage therapy helps decrease the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body.
- Deep tissue massage also helps flush out toxins from the body, therefore reducing swelling to a great extent.
- Other than this, the massage also reduces the pressure on inflamed tissue as it helps the surrounding muscles relax.
- The National University of Health Sciences has also stated that muscle adhesions can lead to pain and inflammation, an issue that deep tissue massage addresses effectively.
Supports Athletic Performance and Recovery
With the numerous benefits of deep tissue massage combined, it also proves to be a great method to help support athletic performance and recovery.
- Deep tissue massage reduces muscle soreness and speeds up recovery after intense workouts.
- With improved flexibility and range of motion, the performance of an athlete also gets enhanced.
- With the flexibility and stretching of muscles, an advantage of deep tissue massage, injuries can also be prevented effectively.
Manages Osteoarthritis Symptoms
Deep tissue massage is also known to help manage the symptoms that often accompany osteoarthritis. However, it is important to remember that it is not always beneficial for people with active arthritis.
- Deep tissue massage reduces joint stiffness and improves mobility in affected areas. This further helps manage osteoarthritis better.
- With decreased inflammation comes decreased pain for osteoarthritis patients.
- The massage also helps enhance circulation, thereby promoting joint health and reducing discomfort.
How often should you get a deep tissue massage?
The frequency of a deep tissue massage will depend on an individual’s needs and health issues. For general wellness, a once in 3-4 week session could help considerably.
For individuals dealing with chronic pain or injury recovery, weekly or biweekly sessions work better. For athletes or individuals who are exceptionally active, a 1–2 times per month visit to our massage therapist could work wonders.
However, at the end of the day, it is always better to book a deep tissue massage therapist and sit down with them to chart out a massage schedule for you, based on your needs.
How Can Blys Help You Find a Professional Deep Tissue Massage Therapist?
At Blys, we have experienced massage therapists just a call away. You can book a deep tissue massage session with our therapist from the convenience of your home and take advantage of the benefits it provides in any space where you are comfortable.
