Deep tissue massage

View Schools that offer Massage Therapy Courses.

If you have chronic muscular pain, then deep tissue massage could be the treatment for you. As the name suggests, deep tissue massage focuses on working with muscles and tissue at deeper layers than some other massage treatments. It is especially recommended for chronic tension and fatigue such as stiff necks or back pain. It is a targeted form of massage aimed at alleviating chronic conditions. Unlike many other forms of massage it is not aimed at providing relaxation, it is largely remedial. It has proved to have great success in treating many chronic conditions.

Deep tissue massage aims to tackle adhesions, that is, rigid areas of tissue that have become painful. These can cause problems with circulation as well as much pain and can be found in muscles, ligaments, and tendons. By using very deep pressure on the connective tissue the practitioner can start to break down the adhesions and restore muscles to normal, thus relieving the pressure and the pain. This is what makes it so effective in tackling the kind of chronic, persistent pain that many other therapies cannot properly address.

Most sessions last for 60 minutes. Before the physical work begins the therapist will talk to you and take a case history, finding out about your diet, exercise habits, general health, and the history of any injuries or pain which you are seeking to heal. In this way they can begin to build up a picture of how best to treat you. You will be invited to undress and lie down in a calm, quiet space and your therapist will then begin the therapy. The practitioner uses their arms, hands, knuckles, and elbows during treatment. Deep tissue massage uses many of the strokes to be found in classic Swedish massage. However, the movements are slower and firmer in order to achieve deeper results.

You can expect to find deep tissue massage uncomfortable at moments as the therapist is working at a very deep level to release tensions. When this happens you should tell the therapist to ensure that they continue the treatment at a level which is comfortable for you and within your own personal threshold. It should never be actively painful. You may well feel a bit tired and sore after treatment and should drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins that have been released from the body. It can also help to have a sauna either before or after treatment to help ease your muscles even further.

This form of massage is recommended for a host of complaints and conditions including chronic pain, recovery from injuries such as whiplash, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury, osteoarthritis, and muscle spasm. It can also help with posture and fibromyalgia. It can be an effective alternative to such treatments as chiropractic, acupuncture, and painkillers.

There are various specific kinds of deep tissue massage. These include cross-fiber friction which works across the fiber of the muscles; trigger point therapy which refreshes blood flow by stopping and starting the supply of blood to various regions of the body; myofascial release is a stretching motion to release tension in the fascia. This is the tough tissue which surrounds every muscle and blood vessel. Another kind of deep tissue massage is cupping where a heated glass cup is placed along the back creating a vacuum which drains toxins and restores blood flow.

Although one session can make a difference, it is highly recommended to have a course of treatment. In fact therapists recommend that deep tissue massage be combined with postural exercises for the best results.

Schools that offer Massage Therapy Courses

Fortis College

Massage Therapy

The program has been specifically designed to focus on allowing the student to gain a basic understanding of massage. Classroom instruction is combined with hands-on training in such areas as techniques of Swedish massage, anatomy, physiology, pathology, and kinesiology to successfully prepare students for entry-level employment in the massage industry.

Diploma, Associate.
Massage Therapy.
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Florida.

Rasmussen College

Associate's in Massage Therapy

Earning a degree in Massage Therapy allows you to begin a career in the healing arts where you will be satisfied knowing that you are helping others. Unlike a massage that aims at simple relaxation or stress relief, only thoroughly trained individuals, who provide a specialized type of care, can perform Massage Therapy for medical benefit of the patient.

Massage Therapy Diploma

If you are an Allied Health professional seeking to improve your credentials, you can earn a Massage Therapy diploma at Rasmussen College. Obtaining a Massage Therapy Diploma will ensure you have the basic knowledge, proper training and enhancement of skills necessary to be a successful massage therapist.

Diploma, Associate.
Massage Therapy Diploma, Massage Therapy Associates Degree.
Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Florida.

Fremont College

Massage & Sports Therapy

The Massage Therapy program at Fremont teaches students how to apply massage to resolve specific conditions of the body and gives them a broad-based introduction to the art and science of massage therapy. Our well-rounded curriculum provides for both instruction and hands-on training, through which you will increase in knowledge and develop in-depth educational skills and specialized techniques of massage.

Our 40 week Massage Therapy program offers you a massage certificate or diploma, allowing you to practice massage therapy in a wide variety of medical and clinic settings, or at the spas and wellness centers that are quickly increasing in Southern California.

Diploma.
Massage Therapy.
California.

National Career College

Diploma.
Massage Therapy.
California.

The Bryman School of Arizona

Massage therapists work in various places like massage therapy clinics, private offices, doctors' or chiropractors' offices, with sports teams, resorts, at athletic clubs, yoga retreat centers, beauty salons, dance studios, cruise ships and golf courses.

Associate.
Massage Therapy.
Arizona.