Letâs face it, our bodies are constantly subject to wear and tear whether it's working out, playing sports, or even just our daily hectic schedules. If youâre experiencing muscle soreness and tightness, stress, or pain then a deep tissue massage may be just the thing you need. This advanced massage technique may help loosen you up and get back to feeling your absolute best.
Whether youâre trying to squeeze in an appointment to your massage therapist or have a luxury massage chair at home to use for deep tissue massage benefits any time you like, weâre looking at why you wonât want to miss out on this technique!
What is a Deep Tissue Massage?
You may be familiar with Swedish massage or tried out the shiatsu massage chair function but what is a deep tissue massage?
Deep tissue massage is an advanced massage technique that applies firm pressure and slow strokes to manipulate deep layers of muscle and surrounding connective tissue called fascia. It can be used to break down scar tissue and work out the knots you feel in your muscle areas (technically called muscular adhesions).
Common massage movements for this technique that bring out the unique deep tissue massage benefits include a process called stripping. Stripping applies deep pressure that goes along the length of your muscle fibers and across their grain. This is the movement that breaks down scar tissue and muscular adhesions while aligning the tissue fibers.
Pro tip: Stretch before and after each deep tissue massage chair session to get the most out of massage chair benefits for health.
Deep Tissue Massage Benefits For Your Body
Thereâs more to deep tissue massage benefits than just working out knots in your muscles. You may experience deep tissue massage benefits for both your physical and mental health! Before hopping into a deep tissue massage chair program for health treatments, consider consulting your primary care physician to ensure itâs safe for you to do so.
So then what are these incredible benefits? Some deep tissue massage benefits for your body you need to experience may include:
- Treating muscle tension and other body pains
- Stress relief and management
- Increased flexibility and mobility
- Healing sports related injuries
- Lower blood pressure and heart stress
Deep Tissue Massage Benefits #1: Treating Muscle Tension and Body Pain
One of the most common deep tissue massage benefits people seek is help with treating muscle tension and other body pain. This can include ailments such as muscle soreness, fibromyalgia, or even just a stiff neck. Studies have even suggested that deep tissue massage therapy is superior to general therapeutic massage for back pain relief.
Muscle tension is often associated with stress (more on that momentarily!) and occurs when muscles or muscle groups contract for extended periods of time. This cluster of clinched muscles may cause pain and need to be worked out. This is where the deep tissue massage benefits of slow and penetrating strokes take center stage.
Deep Tissue Massage Benefits #2: Anxiety and Stress Relief
Speaking of muscle tension caused by stress, next up on our list is the benefits of deep tissue massage for anxiety and stress relief. While deep tissue massage is more intense than some other massage techniques aimed solely at relaxation, itâs a great stress reliever all the same.
Itâs no secret that massage has been shown to lower cortisol levels (the natural body hormone associated with stress) while boosting serotonin levels. When weâre stressed, we subconsciously tense up our muscles, resulting in soreness and stiffness in various areas of the body (most commonly the neck, shoulders, and even legs). The stripping techniques of deep tissue massage benefits these symptoms as it helps to loosen those muscle groups as you relax.
You may not have considered it, but deep tissue massage benefits may also include the physical symptoms of stress beyond muscle tension such as headaches. This makes regular deep tissue massage sessions very beneficial.
If regular visits to a massage therapist prove difficult to work into your schedule, having a massage chair at home allows you to receive deep tissue massage sessions whenever youâd like. With their modern advancements, a massage chair with body scanning technology allows it to determine where you need a focused deep tissue massage so you can feel the difference deep tissue massage may make!
Deep Tissue Massage Benefits #3: Increasing Flexibility and Mobility
As previously mentioned, deep tissue massage benefits the breaking up of scar tissue within the body by improving the lymphatic system. Areas where people have scar tissue are often sources of pain and stiffness. When this scar tissue is broken up, it can increase flexibility and mobility of your muscles and tendons.
That increase in flexibility and mobility also boosts range of motion, making deep tissue massage particularly useful for athletes and people with active lifestyles. It can also benefit those with mobility issues caused by a variety of health ailments.
Deep Tissue Massage Benefits #4: Healing Sports-Related Injuries
Deep tissue massage benefits are often sought for sports-related injuries, as it can help rehabilitate injured muscles more quickly and prevent further damage. The movements of deep tissue massage therapy help stretch and heal torn or strained muscles while flushing toxins from your system.
Deep tissue massage chair benefits for athletes and people with active lifestyles make them a regular tool for post workout recovery periods. A massage chair with heat therapy features can further enhance the deep tissue massage experience and may even help boost athletic performance!
Deep Tissue Massage Benefits #5: Lower Blood Pressure
The deep tissue massage benefits for stress, pain relief, and relaxation may also result in naturally lower blood pressure and reduced stress on the heart.
Itâs a pretty simple correlation: when youâre stressed or in pain your blood pressure can increase drastically. Full body massages reduce stress and deep tissue massage takes that experience even further with targeted physical healing, as well. Chronic pain relief from deep tissue massage may help lower your overall risk for heart attack or stroke in the long term.
Of the many types of massage techniques, deep tissue massage is one you wonât want to miss. Deep tissue massage benefits go a step beyond regular relaxing massages and can target areas for physical wellbeing, too. Choosing a massage chair for your home allows you to experience deep tissue massage at any time, making it easy to integrate into your regular routine. Check out a deep tissue massage chair program and feel the difference it could make!
Curious about other benefits of massage chairs? Check out these resources to learn more and see how they fit into your lifestyle:
