Deep Tissue Massage

What is a deep tissue sports massage?

How it affects the body and how we feel

• Circulatory Effects – improves blood supply to the injured part
• Effects on Muscle – relaxes the muscles
• Effects on Pain & Sensation – reduces pain
• Effects on Connective Tissue –  stretches tissue
• Reflexes – improves reflexes
• Psychological Effects – relief of stress and a general feeling of well-being

Soft tissue mobilization techniques

Along with massage techniques used, we can also use soft tissue mobilizations that include stretching techniques for muscles and tendons along with neural structures such as nerves. Some of these techniques used are listed below with a brief outline of how they are employed.

Muscle Energy Techniques

• MET is a manual therapy technique that is variations of the PNF contract-relax and hold–relax techniques…
• MET techniques rely on voluntary  muscular contractions
• Active muscle contraction by the patient
• Muscle contraction orientated in a specific direction
• Some patient control of contraction intensity
• Therapist control of the joint position

Strain-counter Strain Technique

• Strain-counter strain is an approach to decrease muscle tension and guarding that may be used to normalise muscle function.
• A tender point is located…
• The tension in the tender point is monitored as the position is moved to gain the greatest level of comfort and ease…
• This is where the muscle has been considerably shortened
• The tender point should now not be so tender – this position is held for 90 seconds
• The position is then slowly returned to the correct position (neutral)…

Positional Release Therapy

This is one of the most gentle and most effective techniques available for the treatment of acute and chronic musculoskeletal dysfunction:

• PRT is an osteopathic mobilization technique in which the body part is moved into a position of greatest relaxation.
• The position of greatest comfort and muscle relaxation for each joint is achieved and the joint in question is then palpated at a sub-threshold pressure i.e. bearable… this position is held for 90 seconds…
• The tender point should now not be so tender –
• The position is then slowly returned to the correct position (neutral)…

Active Release Technique

ART was developed to correct soft tissue problems in muscle, tendon, and fascia caused by the formation of fibrotic adhesions (knots) that result from:

• Acute injury
• Repetitive or overuse injuries
• Constant pressure
• Tension injuries
• When a muscle, tendon fascia or ligament is torn – strained or sprained or a nerve is damaged, the tissues heal with adhesions or scar tissue formation rather than the formation of brand new tissue. Scar tissue is weaker, less elastic less pliable, and more pain-sensitive than healthy tissue.
• These fibrotic adhesions disrupt the normal muscle function which in turn affects the biomechanics of the joint complex and can lead to pain and dysfunction.

ART provides a way to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of cumulative trauma disorder that left uncorrected can lead to inflammation, adhesions, and fibrosis and muscle imbalances.