What is Deep Tissue Massage?

I couldn’t imagine skipping over a tight spot on a client simply because she didn’t know to speak up about it. I can feel it and I know that if I don’t take care of it right then, it’s going to cause her major discomfort in the very near future.”

Deep tissue massage focuses on stretching fascia, a three-dimensional web of connective tissue that surrounds, supports and penetrates all of the muscles, bones, nerves and organs.

Deep tissue massage works layer by layer through connective tissue and muscles down to the deepest accessible layers to change posture and create freedom of movement by releasing fascial adhesions and chronic muscle contracture.

Adhesions and scar tissue form in muscles because of injury, chronic poor posture, chronic or acute inflammation and repetitive motions. Deep tissue massage therapists use their fingers, thumbs, fists, forearms and elbows to stretch each muscle and fascia layer.

Some of the same strokes are used as in classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper. It is concentrated on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles and the fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles).

At Carol Kennedy Massage Therapy, Carol utilizes varying degrees of pressure during a massage to work through a client’s identified areas of need. In most cases, this is discussed during the initial health assessment before the massage. Often, Carol will increase or reduce the amount of pressure or depth depending on a client’s physical reaction to therapy.