Deep Tissue Massage in Albuquerque

Using deep pressure in the right way makes a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE in how the client will feel after the massage.  Soreness after 2 hours is just not acceptable anymore.  

As an athlete, if you can do your sport without pain 24 hours after a Deep Tissue Massage, then your Massage Therapist has done an excellent job.  This knowledge of “correct pressure” takes many failed massages, bruised muscles and sore athletes.

This is why, having a Sports Massage or a Deep Tissue Massage with a new Massage Therapist RIGHT BEFORE an event is not recommended.  Your Massage Therapist needs to learn how to help you, and you need to learn how to “Help them Help you” with clear communication.

They need to know how your body responds to the Deep Tissue pressure.  Another tip, is that what pressure you ask for is often NOT what your body responds best to.

Learning the difference between what pressure a client asks for and what the client’s body calms down from is the key to an effective Deep Tissue, Sports Massage & Myofascial treatment.

Your therapist learns this difference not by guessing but by hours of experience of touching muscles in a state of contraction & spasm, then comparing it with the same muscles once they relax.

Deep Tissue Massage is very effective for the areas of our body with bigger muscle groups, and there are many benefits.  This is why it is one of the favorite styles of massage used in Sports Massage.

Here are some of the benefits and areas of the body or conditions that Deep Tissue have helped in our office:

• Sciatic Nerve pain
• Hamstring pulls, strains, spasms
• Chronic neck and back pain
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrom
• Shoulder pain
• Tennis elbow/Golfers elbow
• Increases range of motion
• Aids in muscle injury recovery
• Improves posture
• Plantar fasciitis

When pain or tension is in the areas listed above,  the best technique to start with for quick and long lasting results is Deep Tissue Massage.

The most profound benefits from deep pressure are on areas where the pain starts several muslce layers deep.

Light pressure and even stretching sometimes can’t influence the spasm or contraction in the deep layers.

It’s not the only way, though.

Deep Tissue Massage is one of the best modalities for pain relief, especially when it is combined with myofascial therapies, core synchronism for example.

A combination of several modalities is usually the a good remedy for the client’s muslces to relax in any situation.

The same is true with deep massage treatments.

The pain cycle can be stopped, which is amazing to witness.

Again, it’s not the deepest pressure that does this, instead, a combination of modalities.

Use of deep pressure until the specific area of pain is discovered, then less pressure and attention to surrounding areas is a great place to start.

Come back to the SPOT and check if the spasm or pain is less, and start the process again.

The depth of pressure should come on gradually, first warming up the tissues to prepare them for more aggressive pressure.

Another good practice is to have a stable hand on the opposite site of the pressure, if possible.

For example, when working on one side of the shoulder blade, holding pressure on the opposite side of the scapula can keep pressure steady for the “pressured” area while keeping surrounding tissue from being manipulated.

This can help determine which other muscles are involved with the muscle “under pressure.”  Some of the surrounding tissue can react to the pressure, which can be an indication (or hint) of a movement or pain pattern.

Next, put pressure on the muscle (or tissue) which responded to the original pressure and continue this process until the reaction from surrounding tissues stops.

For example:  as you are working on the tissues on the lateral aspect or outer edge of the shoulder blade, notice if the neck flinches, or the back muscles tighten, or the elbow squeezes into the body.  These are just a few examples of responses.  

Keep alert and notice with your hands and eyes areas that respond, then move there and repeat.

Hint:  tissues FAR away could respond, where you would not expect, so keep your eyes peeled and use feather touch to feel mini spasms one muscle away or completely across the body.

You can do this on yourself! It takes mucho self-awareness and deep breathing, and you have to contort your body a bit to get to areas.  But, it is possible. 

Of course it’s way easier to have someone do it.  🙂

 Call or text 505-332-9292 to schedule an appointment.