Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

A classic deep tissue move is slowing running the point of the elbow (olecranon process) down the length of the spine, next to the spinous processes of the vertebrae. This releases both the superficial erector spinae muscles and the deeper transversospinalis muscles. I use my fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and forearms during deep tissue massage.

You will often be ask you to breathe into the area I'm working on during a deep tissue session. This both gets you to focus on the affected area and promotes movement that improves the efficacy of the work.

Contrary to a widely held myth, deep tissue massage doesn't have to hurt to be effective. If you have thorough anatomical knowledge - if you know the origin, insertion, and action of each muscle - and understand how muscles and tendons work, then you can work effectively on very deep structures without causing pain. This is how I most often do deep tissue massage.

However, some types of very specific deep work - like Cyriax cross-fiber friction - may be called for in some situations, and these techniques may hurt both during and after the treatment. I will always warn you about this ahead of time and will work only within your comfort range. I will sometimes recommend icing the affected area after the massage. Typically, you will notice improved mobility almost immediately, and the pain usually disappears within a day or two.