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Deep Tissue Massage
What’s the right amount of pressure to apply to your muscles in massage therapy and self-massage?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eileen Violet on
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Oh, you mean exactly like I said in my first comment, that pressure is subjective??? You are preaching to the choir (and restating pretty much what I said? Du'oh!)
I've got 17+ years under my belt friend, and would happily go toe to toe with any therapist, thank you very much.
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ps. Ambiguity does not superiority make.
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Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on
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You seem to have inferred criticism of you and your skills, Eileen, Criticism was not implied!
In Referring to a comment made by Gordon Wallis (who has more than 30 years experience, thank you very much), you said, "Touch alone...not cutting it." As if Gordon were referring to, say, a high school kid rubbing on his mama's aching back.
No one is claiming superiority to you, Eileen. The point made by everyone's comments -- mine, yours, Therese's, Gordon's, Neal's-- have all proclaimed that pressure is subjective, that one client's Deep Tissue is another client's torture.
Modifying Gordon's comment which you felt compelled to criticize: "[educated] Touch is the massage."
Namaste.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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Eileen, it sounds like you are kind of upset or maybe pissed off? I hope not at me? Anyway, in a lot of my work I just use acupressure( My favorite modality). There is not much flow to it( as you know). Its just touch on acupuncture points to effect distal parts of the body. Thats the whole deal of acupuncture and acupressure. It's centuries old( 5,000 years). Its not really massage I guess. Although it falls within our license. So we are talking about two different things( not arguing). And its not deep tissue, like the topic of this thread. I have no doubt that you are a very good therapist. No doubt what so ever. I do everything I can to help people in my work, like you.
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I have nothing to do at the moment. So I will coment some more in here as far as deep tissue massage goes. I work in a spa. It costs more to get a deep tissue massage. About $15 more. Most of the people that come in requesting a deep tissue massage don't want a light skin rub massage like they have experienced in the past. So they book an appointment for deep tissue. All they really want is a good firm massage. But I give everybody the best massage I can reguardless if its booked deep tissue or not. I mean what am I suppose to do as a professional therapist? Don't give them a good massage thats deep enough unless they give me more money? Give them a lousy massage and say you should have gotten deep tissue massage if you wanted a good one? So the term is almost meaningless to me.
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agree 100%. In the one I work at, there's "relaxation massage" then there's "therapeutic massage". (Therapeutic includes DT and MFR and AIS or any other thing that might have therapeutic effect.) If they have pain or are stiff, we are told to urge them to upgrade for the $extra $15. More money for me, right?
But, no, EVERY massage I give is the very best of me. If they have pain, with their consent, I'm gonna do my best to make it go away. Which usually doesn't take long, so there's plenty of time left in the session for relaxation massage.
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I think applying right amount of pressure varies from one person to another. A massage is only effective when the person on the table is comfortable and relaxed.
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Yes Gary, in 18 years as a therapist I know quite a bit about acupressure...LOTS of cont. ed here...also the school I attended had a great and varied curriculum which included Eastern and Western modalities (and energy work), ...much better than most of the programs I see grads from now that massage is everywhere. I'm also a Reiki Master, and Upledger Trained CST SER therapist as well
But is relaxation massage NOT therapeutic? I would say relaxation massage is therapeutic.
Pressure alone doesn't make the work 'good' or 'bad'. (to me personally a light massage is like nails on a chalkboard, perhaps it's a nervous system thing, but I'll be wicked agitated afterward....OR is it a detox of the lymphatic system? I've done lymphatic drainage training, and after that weekend I was soooooo pissed off...(lots draining through the liver (anger Mr. Acupressure, is in the liver, I"m sure you know)...and have heard from others that lymphatic work left them angry also...is it the energy? the detox? the pressure? All 3?
Bottom line, I gave an answer that I felt would help a newer therapist gauge differences in pressure, and I stand by it. Ambiguity serves only to sound ethereal and it's confusing as hell when you need a physical answer...yes, yes, you'll find your way as you work through years of bodies, but guidance will get you there faster... and I think the answer I gave..."sink into the tissue, working just below the point of tension" is what I would consider a great starting point for the difference between deep, moderate and firm work...and sinking in to the point of tension also is subjective...the point of tension varies on each body...for some it's at the bones, others it's on the surface...so it's an objective guideline, and a great place for a newer therapist to start.
Gordon J. Wallis said:Eileen, it sounds like you are kind of upset or maybe pissed off? I hope not at me? Anyway, in a lot of my work I just use acupressure( My favorite modality). There is not much flow to it( as you know). Its just touch on acupuncture points to effect distal parts of the body. Thats the whole deal of acupuncture and acupressure. It's centuries old( 5,000 years). Its not really massage I guess. Although it falls within our license. So we are talking about two different things( not arguing). And its not deep tissue, like the topic of this thread. I have no doubt that you are a very good therapist. No doubt what so ever. I do everything I can to help people in my work, like you.
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I also find the concept of charging more for deep tissue is a joke. Spent over 3 years at a Conde Nast Travelor top 10 rated resort/spa...what a great way to learn about the VAST array of bodies!
For a short time they did the 'extra' charge for deep work...so often those who paid for deep tissue, and those who paid for Swedish had no idea, concept or understanding of the differences; especially in that Deep Tissue is technically a technique, rather than pressure thing...so often people paid extra for work they didn't want, need or receive...a deep Swedish can be more therapeutic than a 'light' trigger point, deep tissue session...
I personally am an old school muscle stripper, who focuses on fascial patterns anatomy trains and looks at the body as whole, rather than working on small, specific areas, and add energy work where it's appropriate...but that's me.
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you're spending a lot of time belaboring the point we ALL made (pressure is subjective). I apologize if you inferred a personal insult from my comment.
No one impugned your experience as a massage therapist, but we applaud your spirited recitation of your qualifications.
Namaste', Eileen.
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Well I agree with everybody on this thread. Words are easily misinterpreted depending on our backgroud and experiences. But for me, I hardly ever use what( I would call )deep tissue massage anymore, with the exception of maybe on a healthy athlete. If anyone is hurting anywhere its now just a light touch in the right place in order to eliminate their pain. 90% of the time anyway. And like Eileen, I look at the whole body, and do spot work accordingly.
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I'm a nothing as far as certification goes. lol.... And I have no continiuing education credits to my name. Oh well. PS- Not Nationally certified by any exam deal. ( A ROGUE MASSAGE THERAPIST )
Eileen Violet said:Yes Gary, in 18 years as a therapist I know quite a bit about acupressure...LOTS of cont. ed here...also the school I attended had a great and varied curriculum which included Eastern and Western modalities (and energy work), ...much better than most of the programs I see grads from now that massage is everywhere. I'm also a Reiki Master, and Upledger Trained CST SER therapist as well
But is relaxation massage NOT therapeutic? I would say relaxation massage is therapeutic.
Pressure alone doesn't make the work 'good' or 'bad'. (to me personally a light massage is like nails on a chalkboard, perhaps it's a nervous system thing, but I'll be wicked agitated afterward....OR is it a detox of the lymphatic system? I've done lymphatic drainage training, and after that weekend I was soooooo pissed off...(lots draining through the liver (anger Mr. Acupressure, is in the liver, I"m sure you know)...and have heard from others that lymphatic work left them angry also...is it the energy? the detox? the pressure? All 3?
Bottom line, I gave an answer that I felt would help a newer therapist gauge differences in pressure, and I stand by it. Ambiguity serves only to sound ethereal and it's confusing as hell when you need a physical answer...yes, yes, you'll find your way as you work through years of bodies, but guidance will get you there faster... and I think the answer I gave..."sink into the tissue, working just below the point of tension" is what I would consider a great starting point for the difference between deep, moderate and firm work...and sinking in to the point of tension also is subjective...the point of tension varies on each body...for some it's at the bones, others it's on the surface...so it's an objective guideline, and a great place for a newer therapist to start.
Gordon J. Wallis said:Eileen, it sounds like you are kind of upset or maybe pissed off? I hope not at me? Anyway, in a lot of my work I just use acupressure( My favorite modality). There is not much flow to it( as you know). Its just touch on acupuncture points to effect distal parts of the body. Thats the whole deal of acupuncture and acupressure. It's centuries old( 5,000 years). Its not really massage I guess. Although it falls within our license. So we are talking about two different things( not arguing). And its not deep tissue, like the topic of this thread. I have no doubt that you are a very good therapist. No doubt what so ever. I do everything I can to help people in my work, like you.
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