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Deep tissue massage. is it separate modality?
By Boris Prilutsky
Almost 20 years ago when I came to the USA, I already have been a medical and
sports massage practitioner for 20 years. At this time, the massage therapy
industry was at the worse stage than it is today.
Much improvement happened in understanding the difference between orthopedic
massage, sports massage, stress management as well as there’s more clinical
work as an oppose to relaxation “feels good” procedures only. I attribute this to a
much improved quality of CE education. What is also important is that we came to
a realization that medical massage and massage therapy have same
meaning:”provide therapy by means of massage.” In my opinion the only aspect
requiring a tremendously improvement is the understanding of what deep tissue
massage is? Is it separate modality? How much pressure should we apply in order
to prevent clients from injuries and to achieve results?
Surely, any clinical work has to include deep tissue massage. In order to reach
deep layers of soft tissue we shouldn't apply such pressure that, in most cases,
leads to the injury of soft tissue. The following links are to video clips where
I propose explanations on the subject, explain strategies to reach deep tissue,
as well as explain what to do if client demands strong pressure. I hope this
information will be helpful.
http://medicalmassage-ceu.com/CLASS/Lesson1.htm#lesson1A
http://medicalmassage-ceu.com/CLASS/Lesson1.htm#lesson1B
http://medicalmassage-ceu.com/CLASS/Lesson1.htm#lesson1C
Views: 142
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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Yea the Deep Tissue issue...I look at things a bit differently then most therapists I think? Relaxation massage, Sports massage, Deep Tissue massage and so on. How hard do you press?....And so you press with different levels of intensity with each of these hundreds of different kinds of massage styles? I think a good analogy would be the Martial Arts.. If I was being attacked.. I wouldnt be thinking...Hmm...Should I fight this guy the Praying Mantis Kung-Fu way or the Savate French Foot Fighting way, or perhaps the Greco Roman Wrestling way? Id just fight and defend myself. I just massage people. It depends on what they need and want as far as how the massage goes...And pressure should always be perfect..Any massage or style should feel really freakin good, even Deep Tissue. Hurts so good is where its at...Deep Tissue to me doesnt just mean oh,,,Im doing Deep Tissue, I press harder now.. Deep Tissue means working specifically and in more detail as compared to general massage which is less detail and broader contact.. All massage should be done with the proper pressure...As intense, or as good as any massage should be is ...It Hurts So Good!!!! The hurt part is your body telling you that somethings wrong (duh !) , the part that feels good is your body telling you that what your therapist is doing is healing or it wouldnt feel good.....HURT GOOD is where its at ..Thats Max Pressure. Sore as hell is maybe ok,, but it should Never Hurt!!.There is a difference between Hurt and Sore . Before I work on a new client.. I educate them on how a massage should feel.. The touch is the massage people.. A healing touch feels Freakin Good!!!!!!!!! or Hurts Good.. lol PS- a good massage especially deep tissue is not a one way street.. its the Client and therapist working together to create a healing experience. There are too many therapists Brutalizing their clients. Thats stupid..Beginner Massage Therapists press too hard.. Healers don't.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on
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Gordon I think martial arts is a great base for becoming a massage therapist. Several of the martial arts have healing arts included. It teaches you to reach beyond.....
Gordon J. Wallis said:
Yea the Deep Tissue issue...I look at things a bit differently then most therapists I think? Relaxation massage, Sports massage, Deep Tissue massage and so on. How hard do you press?....And so you press with different levels of intensity with each of these hundreds of different kinds of massage styles? I think a good analogy would be the Martial Arts.. If I was being attacked.. I wouldnt be thinking...Hmm...Should I fight this guy the Praying Mantis Kung-Fu way or the Savate French Foot Fighting way, or perhaps the Greco Roman Wrestling way? Id just fight and defend myself. I just massage people. It depends on what they need and want as far as how the massage goes...And pressure should always be perfect..Any massage or style should feel really freakin good, even Deep Tissue. Hurts so good is where its at...Deep Tissue to me doesnt just mean oh,,,Im doing Deep Tissue, I press harder now.. Deep Tissue means working specifically and in more detail as compared to general massage which is less detail and broader contact.. All massage should be done with the proper pressure...As intense, or as good as any massage should be is ...It Hurts So Good!!!! The hurt part is your body telling you that somethings wrong (duh !) , the part that feels good is your body telling you that what your therapist is doing is healing or it wouldnt feel good.....HURT GOOD is where its at ..Thats Max Pressure. Sore as hell is maybe ok,, but it should Never Hurt!!.There is a difference between Hurt and Sore . Before I work on a new client.. I educate them on how a massage should feel.. The touch is the massage people.. A healing touch feels Freakin Good!!!!!!!!! or Hurts Good.. lol PS- a good massage especially deep tissue is not a one way street.. its the Client and therapist working together to create a healing experience. There are too many therapists Brutalizing their clients. Thats stupid..Beginner Massage Therapists press too hard.. Healers don't.
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Permalink Reply by Boris Prilutsky on
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Hi Gordon.
I really can feel what you're talking about and in general agree with you. Sense of touch this is what make different between good therapist and less good one. Some gifted more from this perspective some less but I believe that everyone can develop it to maximum extent, and all of us have to be and will be healers if will decide so. This is not a “beautiful”statements only. As an educator for many years I can assure you that all is doable.
However some clarifications needed. No matter what massage discipline /methodology you are performing, deep tissue mobilization must be a part of any clinical work. Goals of massage is to increase blood supply including to the deep tissue, to release tension within muscles including within deep muscles, to release tension within fascia including deep fascia ect.
What I'm talking at proposed video clips is that vigorous pressure do not allow us to mobilize deep tissue but opposite, as well leading to injuries of soft tissue which is opposite of healing idea. I also talking about that our clients often demanding to apply a vigorous pressure and why we shouldn't be managed by them at the time to provide them with some therapeutic affect that will satisfied craving for strong sensation.
Really can feel what you are talking about and do enjoy reading your posts.
Best wishes.
Boris.
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Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on
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One of my fellow students demands painful pressure. I went out yesterday on community outreach, giving free chair massage to kids and their parents at a sporting event. Mike, the supervising instructor in just a few moments taught me that the pressure doesn't need to feel like tooth-pain in order to release trigger points. As I had been taught by other instructors, I was applying pressure to a hypertense rhomboid's trigger point, and it was resisting; I asked for Mike's input. After palpating the rhomboids, he moved up to the scalenes, felt around for a moment till he found a tender point, and, once identified, he actually lightened his pressure, and held it for perhaps a minute, As he worked, he had me lay my palm on the rhomboids. I felt the rhomboid relax as the scalene trigger point relaxed.
Mike taught me that if a knot of muscle is running out from under your pressure or just won't relax, you need to search for the referring trigger point instead. IOW, deep tissue therapy needn't be torturous in order to be effective.
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Hi Gary.
agree with you:IOW, deep tissue therapy needn't be torturous in order to be effective." But would like to take liberty and will rephrase a bit: deep tissue therapy will be not effective if will be torturous as well cannot be called therapy if it torturous"
Best wishes.
Boris
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