Deep Tissue Massage: For those dealing with chronic muscle tension or injury recovery, deep tissue massage can be particularly effective. This technique focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue, aiming to release persistent muscle knots or adhesions.
Lymphatic drainage massage aims to stimulate the lymphatic system and allow natural drainage of waste products to occur. Kneading and rolling techniques use pressure on the muscles to release tension built up from exercise. Relieving tension can prevent symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness.
Receiving a massage once you've finished working out helps reduce muscle soreness by reducing inflammation and reduces your recovery time by speeding up cell recovery. The key thing to bear in mind is that the massage should take place as soon as possible after exercising.
Deep Tissue works to get into the muscles deeper under the skin. Trigger point therapy is typically used in areas patients' feel “knots” or adhesions, or in other areas determined by your practitioner to help achieve better muscle function.
If you need to relax your muscles and overcome fatigue, go for the Swedish massage. But if you have painful or stiff muscles, a deep-tissue massage would do a better job. It's also an excellent choice for people who train hard, like athletes.
Swedish massage: This gentle and relaxing massage technique uses long, flowing strokes to increase blood flow, loosen muscles, and promote relaxation. Swedish massage is an excellent choice for a pre-workout massage as it helps improve flexibility, which may increase injury prevention and overall performance.
Trigger point treatment isn't really effective for everyone. In addition, applying pressure on sensitive muscle parts might be painful. Due to the release of pain-inducing chemicals into the circulation, you may experience lethargy for one or two days after treatment while your body processes these compounds.
1. Swedish Massage. A quintessential relaxation technique, Swedish massage involves gentle to firm pressure, long strokes, kneading, and circular movements to relieve muscle tension. It promotes blood circulation, aids in lymphatic drainage, and induces a profound sense of relaxation.
Here's why it's so effective for muscle knots: Direct Pressure: Deep tissue massage involves applying sustained pressure directly to the knots, helping to break up the tight fibers and adhesions that form.
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Athletes often require a higher frequency of deep tissue massages compared to non-athletes. For instance, those engaged in intensive training might need weekly sessions to keep their muscles in optimal condition. For general athletic maintenance, bi-weekly appointments can be beneficial.
Removal of Adhesions – Getting a deep tissue massage after exercise helps to get rid of muscle and facia adhesions caused by lactic acid and oxygenates poorly-circulated areas to speed up muscle healing.
General aches, pains, and stiffness are sure signs that you need a deep-tissue massage.
Research has shown that shiatsu massage is beneficial for whole-body health through somatic bodywork. A 2022 study found shiatsu massage therapy helped children who experienced trauma with tension and social interaction.
Swedish massage is arguably considered the most popular massage type, appearing on a majority of spa menus worldwide. This Western massage utilizes the following techniques—effleurage (stroking), friction (rubbing), petrissage (kneading) and tapotement (rhythmic choppings)—for a truly relaxing spa treatment experience.
The difference between deep tissue and Swedish massage has to do with pressure, treatment goals, stroke style, areas of focus, pressure, and intended outcome. Intention: Swedish massage is designed to relax the body and relieve tension. Deep tissue massage is more rigorous and is designed to work out muscle pain.
Yes, massage therapists are trained to identify muscle tension through touch and experience. They use their knowledge of anatomy to pinpoint problem areas effectively. The frequency depends on your activity level and tension severity.
Some patients notice that the muscle pain feels worse after a trigger point injection. This can happen if the needle used for the trigger point injection has to be moved around for the injection and medication to be effective. Moving the needle can further irritate the tight muscle group.
"Muscle knots are actually hyperirritable spots in muscle or fascial tissue [bands or sheets of connective tissue] known as myofascial trigger points," Charleston says. Trigger points typically fall into one of two categories: Active. These active trigger points produce intense pain in the body.