If you are experiencing stiffness or achiness from too much yard work or gym time, try deep tissue massage therapy. Deep tissue therapy can be administered to major muscle groups or to a specific area of contention. The firmer pressure of deep tissue massage accesses and releases tension held in our deeper musculature and fascial connective tissue layers. Firm pressure is also soothing to receptors in the skin. If the stiffness and achiness is allowed to proceed unattended, it will often progress into a nagging painful condition such as a stiff neck or back pain. In this circumstance, specific attention and time is needed to release the muscles and fascia of that area.
Pressure and pain can vary tremendously from one person to another. Healthy tissue when pressed registers pressure receptors and can be very soothing. When pressure registers a pain signal this is a sign that the nervous system is overloaded or overburdened. Further, if left to its own demise very often pain experienced becomes active, that is pain or discomfort is experienced all the time regardless of applied pressure. Deep tissue is very effective in intercepting tension held in our musculature, and in turn, causing a subsiding of muscular tenderness and a decreased in neurological activity, that is causing the overburdening of our nervous system.
In deep tissue, more pressure is not aways better. Too much pressure reinforces the muscle contracture. To little pressure is irritating. Sometimes the pressure needs to be redirected. The most effective pressure is just short of causing a muscle contracture response, which only reinforces the protective mechanism overburdening the nervous system. In Deep Tissue therapy it is my intent to apply a mild to moderate amount of discomfort in order to illicit a favorable therapeutic response. As a therapist I figuratively pat myself on the back when I observe a natural deeper inhalation and exhalation in response to pressure. If not I will often request an inhalation, especially if one is unconsciously habitually holding on to their breath. Only then can a subsiding of discomfort be experienced and we can flow through movement in balance with the forces and energies that make up our live’s.