October 2009 Newsletter Article

Swedish or Deep Tissue - Which Massage is Right for You?

Swedish or Deep Tissue? That is often one of the first questions you will hear from us when booking an appointment at Pax Massage.  People often tend to think of Swedish Massage and Deep Tissue Massage as similar to each other, and that one treatment (Deep Tissue) just has more pressure than the other (Swedish). This is a misconception we see every day, and if not educated about the difference in treatments, you can make the wrong choice about the treatment that is right for you, as the truth is these two treatments are quite different.

Swedish Massage is the most commonly offered and best-known type of massage. If it is your first time at the spa, a Swedish Massage is the perfect place to start.

Swedish Massage is the foundation of other types of Western massages, including sports, deep tissue and aromatherapy massages. The most commonly offered technique, Swedish utilizes a firm pressure on the muscles. It involves employing a series of long and gliding strokes. This allows the massage therapist to knead muscles and concentrate on improving blood circulation, easing tension in the body’s muscles and improving the muscles’ flexibility.

Feel free to state your preference for pressure during a Swedish Massage. It can range from light to firm, and usually will include some deeper work on areas of specific muscles tension. A Swedish massage will help with increasing the flow of oxygen in the blood as well as releasing toxins from the body's muscles. It can really shorten the recovery time for a muscular strain by simply flushing the lactic acids, uric acids, and other type of metabolic wastes out of the body tissues.

Swedish massage increases the circulation of blood without actually increasing the workload of the heart. It helps to stretch the ligaments and tendons to make them pliable and supple. It stimulates the skin as well as the nervous system to soothe the nerves. It is helpful in reducing both emotional and physical stress. The massage is a staple in most stress management programs and is also included in various other therapeutic procedures.

However, if you are seeking more intensive work and a firmer pressure then a Deep Tissue Massage is for you.

Deep Tissue Massage aims at affecting the connective tissue (fascia) and deeper tissue structures of the muscles. Deep Tissue utilizes quite a number of similar techniques and movements as the Swedish but these movements tend to be slower and have more pressure and the massage is more of a focused massage. Massage therapists tend to concentrate on releasing specific chronic muscle tension as well as muscular knots during deep tissue massages.  During deep tissue massage, massage therapists use their fingertips, thumbs, knuckles, forearms and elbows. In addition, therapists use the weight of their bodies to relieve intense tension during a deep tissue session.

Deep tissue massage doesn’t always need to use the most amount of pressure from the therapist.  There are different layers of connective tissue (fascia) that can develop adhesions and they need to be unstuck.  Light, relaxing massage usually works on the superficial layers only, often leaving the deeper layers stuck together after an injury or trauma.

Moist heat prior to the work can soften the connective tissue, making it easier to manipulate (a good way to prepare yourself is to use a NeckEase prior to treatments to warm up the area. NeckEase are sold at Pax Massage).  Warming the soft tissues with lighter massage first can prepare the tissues for the work to follow.

Clients sometimes tell the therapist they can go deeper, even though the therapist is still “prepping” the tissues for the deeper pressure to follow - just like how an athlete warms up prior to playing their sport.  Be patient! Pressure is great, but skill is more desirable than just being heavy handed.

Deep tissue massage helps with both small muscle injuries as well as chronic problems. Massage is an excellent way to deal with a whiplash injury or a sports injury. Deep tissue massage is helpful in treating spasms as well as muscle tension. Physicians sometimes prescribe deep tissue massage for the pain of Fibromyalgia or Osteoarthritis. It also helps to correct posture problems.

At the end of the day it is important to be realistic about what one massage can achieve. Many people ask for more pressure, thinking that if the therapist just pushes hard enough, they can get rid of all their knots in an hour. This just won't happen. In fact, undoing chronic knots and tension built up over a lifetime is best achieved with an integrated program that includes exercise, work on your posture and ways of moving, relaxation techniques and a regular program of massage.

Finally, while deep tissue is certainly valuable, you should be aware that gentle styles of massage like Craniosacral therapy can also produce profound release and realignment in the body.  We will get into Craniosacral therapy in another edition of the Pax Massage Newsletter…….

Interior photos courtesy of Cummings Architects