Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue is a form of massage that focuses on releasing restrictions of the deeper muscles, tendons and ligaments of the body.  Deep tissue massage is a specific massage, which employs techniques to work below superficial connective tissue with the intent of breaking up old structural patterns and allowing the free flow of nutrients and oxygen to the blood. 

Palpation: Careful examination of soft tissue to identify areas of possible damage identifies changes in texture, tension or damage in soft tissue.

Through the use of palpation the therapist is able to pinpoint an area or trigger point in a muscle area.

Trigger points: or muscle “knots” is sensitive spots in soft tissue.  These areas can vary from the size of a pea, to a large lump. They are often tender and painful to touch and will frequently cause referred pain and discomfort.

Muscle knots are caused by several things including pain in muscle tissue, overuse, strains and even trauma.  When a muscle is over worked or injured it can tighten up.  Muscles around the painful area will also bunch up, tightening into a knot to protect the area from further injury – a response known as guarding.

NMT (Neuromuscular therapy): is a form of soft tissue manipulation that aims to treat underlying causes of chronic pain involving the muscular and nervous systems.

NMT can be employed to alleviate these areas and so reduce knots and adhesions. NMT is an extension of deep friction & pressure techniques; it is applied with thumbs, fingers, fists or elbows, and is a diagnostic palpatory tool designed to help assess and deal with chronic pain.

The therapist uses movements to release chronic muscle tension through slow and deep strokes, with more direct pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles.  The therapist will detect restricted stiff, knotted or painful areas by determining the quality and texture of the deeper layers of musculature and slowly working into these deep layers of muscle tissue.